Watchmaker Training · III

Photo by Dragos Blaga on Unsplash

Hi all and welcome back.

Today’s post is all about how you, as a hobbyist watchmaker, can improve your skills at working with watches.

The first thing I want to say is that I have not had any formal training or completed any official courses That being said, it does not mean I have not learned a great deal about watchmaking. I absolutely have. Formal education is one path, but it is not the only path. There are other ways to improve your skill at the bench, and I will get into that a little later.

Start With the End In Mind

Before you jump into any kind of training, you need to ask yourself why that form of training makes sense for your situation. The academic recognition you obtain should match the end goal you have for your watchmaking journey. In other words, you need to keep the end goal clearly in mind. The next section outlines each watchmaking category I could think of, along with the associated end goals and the training required to reach them.

Authorised Service Work

The first path is authorised service work. This means being licensed to work for major brands such as Rolex or Omega right from the get go. It offers stable employment, a structured salary, benefits, and a formal work environment. Your job will be to perform brand-approved repairs or builds and follow strict manufacturer service protocols. If this is your goal then Swiss training is considered to be essential.

The most recognised program is the two-year WOSTEP program, which stands for Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Education Program. WOSTEP is basically the closest you can get to international recognition. It was created by the Swiss watch industry to ensure high-level training. The program covers complete movement servicing, manufacturing fundamentals, timing and regulation, and work on complications. The full program can be completed in Neuchâtel, Switzerland so cost of living should also be considered alongside tuition fees.

Brand Certification and Local Employment

If your goal is employment in privately owned stores or opening your own shop, the École nationale de l’horlogerie in Trois-Rivières, Québec, is a dedicated public watchmaking school that offers an 18-month vocational program leading to a Diplôme d’études professionnelles in horlogerie. Graduates often move into authorised service centres, jewellery chains, or independent workshops.

Many then obtain additional brand certification as a way to further advance their careers. Brand certification is manufacturer-recognised and is usually done after formal training or industry experience. It allows you to order genuine parts, complete warranty repairs, and meet big brand standards. the cost of completing this program is generally low because it is publicly funded but does not include living costs and is delivered in French.

Validating Your Skills

The third path is validation of skills. This can also lead to work in jewellery chains or private repair shops. It offers more flexibility and involves smaller workshop settings. While you may not be brand-authorised, you typically service vintage watches, out-of-warranty pieces, and handle general repairs. If you want formal skill validation, there are several pathways you can take.

The British Horological Institute offers modular, distance-based certifications that validate practical repair and restoration skills. WOSTEP also offers shorter courses focused on specific competencies. In the United States, the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute provides exam-based credentials. Some individuals choose independent apprenticeships under experienced watchmakers, but I guess you would have to find someone who was wiling to teach you.

Independent Mastery

The fourth path is independent mastery. This route focuses on building skill and reputation rather than earning formal credentials. You might run your own workshop, restore and resell watches, or even build custom pieces by buying parts online. Success in this path is portfolio-driven. Clients rely on your documented work, reviews, and word-of-mouth reputation rather than a framed diploma on the wall.

There are several ways to build skills along this route. A Canadian company called Forge and Time offers in person workshops, and there are paid online tutorials such as Watch Repair Tutorials and Sutcliffe Hansen that provide structured video instruction. Many independent watchmakers combine options like these with free YouTube content and regular bench practice. I have not personally tried these paid resources, so I would recommend doing your own research before spending money on any course or platform.

Willem's Goal

As for me, independent mastery is the path I am aiming for. That means my development is built on deliberate online learning, workshop attendance, self guided practice and scaffolded skill development. I started with a reliable practice movement to help me master proper disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, timing, and regulation. From there, I plan to gradually move into more complex repairs, vintage restorations, and possibly complication work.

Because there is no formal diploma to signal that I am competent, I will have to show how skilled I am if I want to be trusted to work on other peoples watches. This also happens to be one of the reasons why I started this blog. I hope to eventually use it as a portfolio that can showcase my work through the information, photographs and videos I post.

Willem's Path

My journey down this path really began the day I took that first watch to the old man’s repair shop. Soon after, I turned to YouTube to better understand the different types of watches and how they functioned. The first channels I followed were The Urban Gentry and Watch and Learn. Back then, I was mainly drawn to watches and brands, but over time my interest shifted more toward the movements themselves.

As I learned more, I found myself watching a lot of Wristwatch Revival, mainly for disassembly practice and to learn how to identify parts properly. The narrator of that channel tends to follow a similar script in each video, so you repeatedly see the part and hear its name at the same time. That kind of repetition is very helpful when you are still learning. He also works on a wide range of movements, which makes troubleshooting easier when you encounter something similar on your own bench.

At the moment, I am working through a free YouTube series called The Basics of Watch Service, hosted by a certified watchmaker named Alex on the Watch Repair Tutorials channel. There are twenty six clear, step by step instructional videos available. I bought myself a lined notebook and watch one episode per week, taking detailed notes as he teaches. I can confidently say he knows what he is talking about.

For now, the free course will have to be my focus, and thankfully it is very well structured and genuinely helpful. That being said, completing a few paid online courses is still part of my long term plan. As I work toward my end goal, I see those more advanced programs as the next step once the timing and finances make sense.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, for most people, the most important step is first figuring out your end goal. I hope the above information helps with your decision and that you have fun researching the path you need to take to get where your going.

P.S. I haven’t had time to disassemble the little Seagull again, but I will eventually.

Cheers,
Will