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Watchmaking classes: recommendation please

  1. conorwrichards May 22, 2019

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    Hi all,

    I'm planning to do a watchmaking class.

    - Is there one you'd recommed? I'm based in Geneva.
    - Is a weekend enough or should I do a longer course?

    Many thanks for your guidance!
     
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  2. JimInOz Melbourne Australia May 22, 2019

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    What do you want to achieve?

    Become a watchmaker?

    Learn how to open a watch and do basic stuff?


    There's a HUGE difference in time to be expended on one or the other.
     
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  3. time flies May 22, 2019

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    @Mad Dog may have something to offer...

    have fun
    kfw
     
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  4. Deafcon Omega Qualified May 22, 2019

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    I started with some online courses and reading every book I could find. I then took a 1 week class at the AWCI in Harrison Ohio. It was their watchmaking 101 class. I learned far more from the 1 week class, there is no substitute for working with an actual instructor. I’ve also now taken a 3 day class that only covered the Swiss lever escapement. The 1 or 2 day build a watch type classes would give you taste of watchmaking. A week long would give you a better appreciation of it.
     
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  5. 77deluxe May 22, 2019

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    Buy some tools and a cheap Unitas 6948 clone and get to work.
     
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  6. Mad Dog rockpaperscissorschampion May 22, 2019

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    Our oldest kid unit [Hannah] and I attended the AWCI “Build a Watch” course in Harrison, Ohio in 2018. It was 3 full days in length with 12 students and 3 instructors [1 CMW21 and 2 CW21 instructors]. We were each assigned an individual watch. We disassembled / cleaned / reassembled / timed / adjusted / timed again / cased / timed again / pressure tested generic fliegers with ETA 6497-1 movements. We had the option to purchase our fliegers at the end of the course [which our oldest child and I did]. The cost of the course was $600 and if you purchased your flieger it was another $300. This was a phenomenal course...both fun and frustrating for myself. It was NOT a watchmaking certification course of any sort...more of an introduction to watchmaking that provided a gateway for an individual to pursue further watchmaking courses that could lead to watchmaking certification [CW21]. If I pursue any further courses, I would repeat the AWCI “Build a Watch” course...27 times. :confused:

    My ETA 6497-1 during reassembly...

    BEBF8A74-1892-4A82-B828-043D93AD484E.jpeg

    Our completed fliegers...

    13F0CDAF-9E6C-465A-A0DB-A32844411B43.jpeg

    ED933759-ADA8-410C-A786-E41D917495C2.jpeg

    C8BDCD36-F35D-407D-A3A1-518D57470620.jpeg

    Bonus pic...our oldest kid unit [Hannah] sleeping at the bench during the AWCI “Build a Watch” course...:D

    2CFB6EE1-335D-44D4-A75A-051578CB8C9B.jpeg
     
    Edited May 22, 2019
  7. Snap Crackle May 22, 2019

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    Quick search turned this up. https://www.initium.ch/en/classes/#

    I wish I had the time and most importantly PATIENCE to work on watches. I have tools and play watchmaker a couple times a year. I almost always break something or loose a screw, get mad, then put the tools away for another 6 months lol.
     
  8. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker May 22, 2019

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    Cannot stress this enough. On-line courses may give you a small taste of what this is all about, as will reading books, watching videos, etc. But there really is n substitute for having a live instructor there to guide you.
     
  9. Jokr May 22, 2019

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    You could also ask someone at you local OB. I was offered to take part in a little workshop with their watchmaker last year.