Creative and Design Watchmaker Apprenticeship: Level 3
Have you ever thought about watchmaking as a career? This Level 3 Creative and Design Watchmaker Apprenticeship will go over 24 months and give you all the key skills to make, service, and repair watches.
This job is within an independent company servicing a large range of watch brands or a workshop maintained by a certain brand of watch. The company could be one of two things. Either a small business like a jeweller or furthermore, a watchmaker employed by a larger company. These larger companies focus on servicing watches directly for the public and for other businesses.
Within this apprenticeship, you will be required to use:
- Test equipment to assess the functioning of the watch and determine faults.
- Hand tools to dismantle, reassemble and adjust the watch.
- Machine tools for cleaning watch components and case refurbishment.
Watchmaking is an exciting and rewarding job. In this occupation, you will service quartz and mechanical watches (automatic winders and manual winders). You will also replace components that are worn or damaged. An understanding of the principles involved in the functioning of both quartz and mechanical watch movements is important. Timekeeping, history, and industry knowledge are also beneficial. In your daily work, you might interact with clients or customers, as well as other watchmakers and managers. You are responsible for maintaining your hand tools and using test equipment according to health and safety guidelines.
The Watchmaker Apprenticeship offers a good opportunity to work with quartz and mechanical watches. It will give you the skills to service and repair timepieces, and gain a better understanding of how they work.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Liaising with customers and/or colleagues to determine their requirements and provide clear feedback on work undertaken.
- Assess the condition of quartz and mechanical watches and their components using test equipment, visual assessment, and observation.
- Refinish polished and grained surfaces of the watch case and bracelet; prepare and reassemble components (e.g., gaskets, glasses, pushers).
- Service lubricate and adjust quartz and mechanical watch movements, to ensure the serviced movement meets the manufacturer’s specifications and industry practices.
- Complete documentation, detailing the initial condition of watches, work undertaken, test results, components, and estimated cost of components required.
Skills included:
- Complies with health, safety, and environmental legislation (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, COSHH, PPE) relating to common hazards within the working environment for watch servicing.
- Uses equipment safely in accordance with the manufacturer’s technical information and industry practice.
- Maintains tools in correct working order according to industry practice.
- Ensures all watch case and bracelet/strap components are in a suitable condition for re-assembly (includes refinishing where necessary).
- Services watches within agreed commercial time scales.
The Level 3 Creative and Design Watchmaker Apprenticeship is the next step on your journey to becoming a fully qualified watchmaker. You’ll receive on-the-job training, as well as lessons. These will be at college where you will learn the ins and outs of constructing and repairing watches.
Qualifications Needed for Creative and Design Watchmaker Apprenticeship
To join this Creative and Design Watchmaker Level 3 Apprenticeship, apprentices will need level 2 English and Maths. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and Maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
If you would like to work in the creative industry, this could be your dream job. If you enjoy working with your hands and have a strong interest in the industry, then this Apprenticeship may be for you.