Best Watchmaking Qualifications

[vinn3]

On ‎8‎/‎16‎/‎2020 at 12:39 AM, jdm said:

Discussed various times already, please search. And which country are you from? If the UK, NHI offers long and costly distance learning with exams in person. That school is not as you may expect becuase for the firts two years or so you are only taught to file straight.

If you want to learn quiacky to get on your way to be a professional I recommend that you enroll in our host Mark Lovick training at watchrepairlessons.com, and practice, practice, practice.

    there are schools in Finnland  and U S A     vin

[vinn3]

how about;  getting the highest  paid mechanical job (not engenering) and save watch repair for retiremet ??   when you are old like me -- you don't have to remember how to spell !  cheeres,  vin

[JohnR725]

1 hour ago, vinn3 said:

how about;  getting the highest  paid mechanical job (not engenering) and save watch repair for retiremet ??   when you are old like me

What's wrong with engineering?

 

[vinn3]

2 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

What's wrong with engineering?

 

nothing, i have one    ,BUT,   the working mechanic ,  working  every week for 5 years is better usualy at problem solving..  vinn  

[Waggy]

On 8/16/2020 at 12:15 PM, AdamC said:

Hi Tom,

I’ve been toying with a similar dilemma. I work in a well paid but highly stressful job, though I’m moving towards the latter end of my career. My escapism from the stresses of the day job is to restore vintage watches, and I’ve been practicing for about three years now. I’ve taken Level 1 and 2 of Mark’s watch repair courses, and this has helped improve my techniques and skills confidence. I’m onto the 3rd level now. I think this is a great place to start and will provide certificates of achievement (a measurement of your knowledge). But some time ago I reached out to Mark regarding taking the British Horological Institute (BHI) courses and professional exams, and considering whether to do the distance learning course or the hands-on workshop tutor led course. He highly recommended the hands-on course, and since for me, the BHI course centre (Upton Hall) is less than an hour away, it makes sense all round - except for now of course, while all onsite courses are cancelled due to the pandemic! I joined the BHI as an associate member two years ago - worth it for the horological journals they publish monthly.

So in my opinion, to provide assurance to your future customers, I would recommend you get professionally qualified. I sell my successful projects on ebay for next to no profit, and I’ve had a few people contact me to ask whether I’d repair/service their watches. I have always declined because I describe myself as an enthusiastic hobbyist, and nothing more.

I take on some more advanced projects now that I have built my confidence and tools set up, including escapement work (refitting balance staffs etc.). Would love to get a lathe to learn those skills too.

Obviously, it depends which part of the world you live in as I know there are equally good organisations to get professionally trained in the US for example. As mentioned, the BHI does distance learning courses for students worldwide as another option to get professionally qualified.

To wrap up this lengthy reply, I guess we amateurs need to ask ourselves your question from a customer’s perspective. If I had a prestige sports car worth £50,000, would I take it to “Mick’s Motors” who has a back street garage where he practices motor repairs at the weekends and is unqualified or should I take it to the main dealers who are trained (hopefully!) and guarantee their work? The same would apply to an expensive/treasured timepiece!

Hope that helps? It would be interesting to hear from those who are qualified for an insight into whether they have found it a rewarding career and whether it can be very stressful at times. Pros and cons and insurance advice to protect against inadvertent damage (it has to happen to professionals right?).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The BHI offer 2 distance courses:

- Technician Grade and

- Combined Intermediate and Final Grade.

Do you take one then the other, and if so which way around do you do it? Or do you select one path, is so how do you choose which path to take?

https://bhi.co.uk/training-education/dlc/