Art of Watchmaking

Voice Over: The Swiss watch is a marvel of mechanical engineering, with over 200 parts working flawlessly together, driven by merely a spring. The men and women who build and service these machines are artists, blending science and design to create masterpieces. They understand the interplay between the materials used to make timepieces, and have mastered the precision of movement and thought needed to create an object that is a reflection of the care and attention given to create it. A piece of living art that is, after all, greater than the sum of its parts.

Mark Jones, Instructor: The first time that I took that loop and I put it on, it was like entering another place, and it really caught my attention, all the detail inside the watches. People who work on these watches are very passionate, and the people who designed them had incredible ideas. That's where I got really excited, and I started watchmaking school.

VO: Let's take a closer look at what goes on in the workshop of a watchmaker. The workshop itself is very well-lit and organized.

Charles Berthiaume, Technicum Director: The person can expect to work in a library-type of atmosphere. It's clean. It's quiet. The person is able to focus.

VO: The watchmaker sits at a workbench that is high; closer to the eyes. It is constructed to make the everyday tasks easier; to keep the arms and hands steady. All of the specialized tools, lubricants, and any parts needed are close at hand. Watchmakers wear a loop, a magnifying eyepiece, that enables them to see more clearly the intricate internal workings of the watch, called the movement. Using tweezers, small clamps, screwdrivers, and other specialized tools, the watchmaker disassembles, cleans, lubricates, reassembles, and recalibrates the timepiece. Every gear, every spring is placed with careful precision.

Steve Schwartz, Student: I remember the first time I saw a watch movement. It really blew me out of the water. I was like, I don't think I'm going to be able to do this. But, you just take it a step at a time and once you put that watch together and you get it running for the first time - it's a great feeling.

Sherrilynn J. Posey, Watchmaker: Watchmaking is not for everybody. It takes time and commitment. This is so tiny, and the parts in it are so little, that everything has to be exact.

Jones: The skills that are needed to be a watchmaker, I would say for one, is patience, and I actually would say for number two, is also patience. You need to have skills, such as dexterity. You need to be able to have analytical abilities; be able to figure out problems. And you also need to be able to memorize where parts go, so you can put them back in the proper place. After you start to work on a watch you start to have a good ability to remember where things go, and your dexterity improves. So we can take students with very little experience and teach them and bring them along.

Berthiaume: In recent years, the Swiss watch industry has experienced a renaissance of sales in this country of fine mechanical watches. These watches are designed to be handed down from generation to generation, so we need the skilled technician to service and maintain these pieces for years to come.

VO: There are opportunities for watchmakers in countries all around the world.

Berthiaume: The different options available for a young watchmaker would be to work for a watch distributor or watch importer, or work at the retail level at a jewelry store servicing customers. Or in the restoration side of it, restoring antique timepieces. There are several options.

VO: Watchmaking, with its blend of art and science, is a unique form of expression. It offers people the chance to carry on a fine tradition, and to enjoy a career that matches their skills and personality. It may be the right fit for you.

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