Is watchmaking a good career?

One career path rarely thought of — and intensely in demand — is watchmaking. The result, however, is positive in that watchmaking has now become a highly in-demand career. To that end, several brands have established watchmaking schools throughout the country that augment the existing schools.

How do you become a watch maker?

There are basically two paths to becoming a watchmaker; going to school or winning yourself an apprenticeship. Both have their pros and cons and the only right choice is the one that’s right for you. With apprenticeships, the biggest hurdle, at least in the beginning, is finding someone willing to take you on.

How much money does a horologist make?

The salaries of Horologists in the US range from $19,320 to $60,159 , with a median salary of $46,062 . The middle 57\% of Horologists makes between $46,065 and $50,657, with the top 86\% making $60,159.

Where do watchmakers work?

They typically are employed by jewelers, but dedicated watch repair shops also exist. While most watches are manufactured by larger companies, in some cases a watchmaker will still get the opportunity to design and craft custom creations for very high-end customers.

Is there a demand for watch makers?

The demand for watchmaking is really high right now, since the average age of a watchmaker is about 47. There are about 4000 watchmakers in the U.S. and about half are expected to retire in the next 10 years.

Is watchmaking a dying art?

Repairing watches is a ‘dying’ art, but this Wayne watchmaker is turning away customers. Sixty years ago, there were more than 50,000 independent watchmakers in America. These days, the number has dwindled to fewer than 6,000, according to Bureau of Labor estimates.

How much does it cost to get a watch repaired?

The swiss lead the way in post-war wrist watch technology. You must be able to clean and repair your own watch if you want to go vintage. Watchmakers are a dying breed, if you can find one expect to pay $200-$400 to get your watch repaired. Besides, most of the fun is being able to wear something you repaired yourself.

How do you reassemble a watch after cleaning?

Here’s how to reassemble after cleaning (again, another colorful commentary): Get a set of jeweler’s screwdrivers; good ones from the US, Swiss, or French made, not Chinese made ones. Screws in vintage watches are tougher than the screw driver tips, cheap screwdrivers will disintegrate quickly. Toothpicks.

How do you make a mechanical watch run again?

To make it run again you will have to completely take it apart, clean its mechanical parts and plates in an ultrasonic cleaner, and oil as you put it back together following the procedure in TM9-1575. Waltham Riverside pocket watch after cleaning and oiling.

Can you repair vintage mechanical watches?

Learn to repair vintage mechanical watches. You can do this and we’ll show you how. They tick, mechanical watches have a pulse. First created in the 16th century by locksmiths, these early watches could only resolve time down to the hour and for this reason displayed time with only one hour hand.