LIFE IN ONE DAY

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A day in the life of a watchmaker

A watchmaker can have very general or very specific responsibilities depending on seniority.  The more senior or experienced, a watchmaker can be tasked with only one type of job, usually the most difficult.  If you are a watchmaking artisan, that job may be in a very specific type of finishing or even gem setting, while master watchmakers will most likely be given the most difficult jobs such as movement design and assembly.

This is why a day in the life of a watchmaker can vary depending on the specific job they have and the type of watches they work on.  But like most trades watchmaking is a skill and skills can be learned.  Meaning novice watchmakers will have to start from the ground up.  Below is an example of what a typical day might look like for a mid-level watchmaker who works for a watch brand or a watch repair company.

A watchmaker will most probably start the day by setting up their workbench or workstation.  He will most likely examine his tools and make sure that they are in perfect working order.  Watchmaking is a highly meticulous type of job and a watchmaker requires very specialized tools such as a loupe or a microscope.

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Depending on what part of the assembly process he is assigned to the watchmaker will most likely check on the schedule assignments next and go about accomplishing the tasks assigned to him for the day.  This could be anything from conducting quality checks or finishing a particular component.  Whatever the task, the watchmaker will plan their day accordingly.

Depending on the company, the watchmaker may also have to schedule time for training sessions or briefings on new model updates and technologies.  Major watch companies routinely introduce new innovations and advancements, which watchmakers need to stay updated with to meet the company’s standards.

Many of the larger watch companies often engage peripheral professionals such as technicians, engineers, designers and artisans, many of whom are not necessarily directly employed by the company.  This means the watchmaker will often have to do a lot of collaborating to develop a specific watch design or function.  And will most likely have to coordinate with other colleagues or even whole other departments to resolve complex issues and the like.

Whatever the case, or what ever the job in the many steps in assembling a single timepiece may be, watchmakers working for major watch companies typically have opportunities for professional growth and development.  They are encouraged to join training programs, attend workshops and seminars, and collaborate with experienced colleagues thereby enhancing their skills and knowledge.  The goal being, of course, is the continuous development and improvement of both watchmaking skills and watchmaking in general.

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