Help with finding full time horologist schools in NYC?

[LeaderOfTheBunch]

I’m currently a 17 yo senior, turning 18 in April, and I’m interested in becoming a watchmaker as a career. Since I’m not quite ready to leave home yet I’m looking for a school that I can commute to, and since I live in Fairfield County I’m able to go directly to Grand Central by train in the morning. The school I’m currently looking at is the Patek-Philippe Horology Program of New York, which is a free two year course that can also land you a job at a company after graduation. However, they don’t have a website so most of what I know comes from a few articles that I found and I’m planning on emailing them eventually once I get things sorted out. What worries me most is that one article mentions that out of 380 people that applied the year it opened, only 6 were accepted and they had to go through a rigorous entrance exam, so I fear that the Patek-Philippe school might be a bit out of my league. Also Google maps shows a place called Swiss precision watchmaking in Lower Manhattan, but I could find even less about their training program so I think it might be a store and repair center that got listed on Google Maps as a school by accident. The other closest school outside of the school is called the Jewelry & Watch Repair School of New England near Hartford CT but I don’t think that I’d be able to drive that far every day. If I can’t find anything soon I’ve been considering just getting a bachelor's degree at a community college (which my mom wants me to do) and after that I could either move to Pennsylvania to attend one the schools there or just find a cheap place in Hartford to go to the Jewelry & Watch Repair School of New England once I get my license and become more experienced in life to the point where I feel comfortable living on my own.

[Michael1962]

Welcome to the forum @LeaderOfTheBunch.

You should also duck over to the Introductions area and say hi in there. The other guys on here would appreciate it.

Have you tried to get in touch with the NAWCC over in the USA? I am not sure of what they would be able to tell you, but they might be a great place to start.

Here in Australia, there is nothing at all. About my only way to get any sort of qualification would be by the BHI in the UK. There is also the watch repair course that Mark Lovick (owner of this forum) runs online.

[AdamC]

Hello,

Im UK based so am not familiar with what’s available in NYC area. However, horology courses over here are just as scarce and probably many learning centres have closed over the years. However, maybe there are options for you in the form of distance learning courses (DLC). The certificate many aspire for is the WOSTEP qualification, which basically gives assurance that you have reached a professional level of competence. Another avenue may be the a DLC with the BHI, which still involves practical work, which can be assessed by an professional tutor. Gaining any of these DLC qualifications should in theory gain you an apprenticeship with a watchmaking or service centre. This also gives you the option of attending college locally while taking the DLC. Food for thought?

Here’s a link with some info to help.

Good luck with finding something suitable.

[jdm]

On 2/1/2022 at 8:14 AM, Michael1962 said:

You should also duck over to the Introductions area and say hi in there.

I would say that the OP introduced himself very well, much better of many others actually. The only thing we don't know if he started practical repairing on his own already, if not he should readily do that.

 

On 2/1/2022 at 8:26 AM, AdamC said:

However, maybe there are options for you in the form of distance learning courses (DLC).

Which requires exams in-presence in the UK for at least 5 of the very many course units if you want to be certified. Other units may be sit elsewhere, but reading through their website which is full of long formalities I didn't managed to understand where, when and for how much.

Anyway, my message to the OP is that he should now be able to perceive the elitist and almost secretive world of professional watchmaking. Schooling it is not done to popularize the knowledge but to prepare few future top-grade professionals, formed with the mindset of 100 years ago, while earning a good buck.  I also think that these schools cater to people starting maybe a couple years or more older than him, and that have already have some experience and skills, as it's inevitable when there's a driving passion.

My opinion is that since this is 2022 not 1922 one should take full advantage of that. As mentioned, high quality, practical, results-targeted training is available from our Host Mark Lovick at watchfix.com. An average person can learn well how to service, diagnose and fix (by parts swapping) a watch in 6 months, working everyday from home. Tools are easily ordered online and not terribly expensive when the goal is to learn how to use them not collecting big brands - do we remember that gladiators trained with weapons heavier than the ones they used in combat?

Out there service offering is so thin that owners are desperately searching someone that maintains and repair their watches, from heirlooms of modest value "for sentimental reasons", to crystal replacing on fashion watches, to popular mechanical Seikos, all they way up to multi-thousands dollar watches for which the manufacturer wants big money to service them.
Reputable watchmakers have years long waiting lists, I think that a young man able to show he's good at hit should have no difficulty in finding work with one of these, before being ready to open up his own shop. Then later on if he has the funds and disposition may consider enrolling a big name school far from home, but again IMHO isn't necessary to preserve the trade and make and honest income from it.

 

[watchweasol]

I think jdm summed it up pretty well and out lined the options. If it was me I should go for thr course offerd by Mark Lovick and get some training on my own account , thay way you can prove to youself its what you want to do. After completing the course you will be able to converse with any prospective employer/customer kowledgebly and have a thorough grounding in watch servicing and repair. A spring board to further your chosn carrer/

[AdamC]

I agree with @jdmand @watchweasol. I overlooked the obvious, just focusing on formal education rather rather than learning the Mark Lovick way, which is exactly how I became enthused and learned watch servicing and repair as my main hobby. I’ve also found support on this forum fantastic when I’ve got stuck with a problem.

I wasn’t completely aware that you had to sit exams in the UK, again, I overlooked that aspect. However, I hadn’t thought of the BHI as being elitist either, and indeed, when considering a course myself, reached out to Mark on whether to do DLC or BHI on-site workshop and he highly recommended the hands on workshop training method. I’ve still not taken a BHI course but have joined as an associate member for about 3 years and enjoy reading their Horological Journals and have learnt from their articles.

It’s a shame there aren’t more training centres across the world, and it is a problem for people wanting formal education, as illustrated by @Michael1962 living in Australia. It’s so good to hear of a young person interested in a career in watchmaking and I wish them all the best.

[jdm]

Sorry Adam by mistake I used your name when I was in fact talking to our young OP, now corrected. 

[JohnR725]

On 1/31/2022 at 5:17 PM, LeaderOfTheBunch said:

What worries me most is that one article mentions that out of 380 people that applied the year it opened, only 6 were accepted and they had to go through a rigorous entrance exam,

That unfortunately is standard operating practice for most watch schools in the US. Personally I always find it amusing that you have to take it entrance test that shows that you have watchmaking skills so that you can go to a school to get watchmaking skills.

It's a shame you didn't have a time machine You can travel back in time and go to the Bulova school it was in New York somewhere. Was a really excellent school but it's gone like most of the schools in the US. There aren't that many decent schools left unfortunately.

If you want to grasp the US school situation for watch repair look at this link 

https://www.awci.com/educationcareers/research-and-education-council-rec-schools-u-s/

 

On 1/31/2022 at 5:17 PM, LeaderOfTheBunch said:

The other closest school outside of the school is called the Jewelry & Watch Repair School of New England near Hartford CT but I don’t think that I’d be able to drive that far every day.

This is an interesting school I don't think driving is going to be a problem at all.  They even have a website with testimonial information and I wouldn't waste my time here at all. The description of the master watchmaking class is interesting and I think interesting is probably the nicest thing I can say about it.

https://ohe.ct.gov/heweb/PosaInfo.asp?F=1757

http://jwrschool.com/

Too many choices too many problems?

If you can get in the Patek-Philippe school You would really be set for life. For those that don't grasp the school I have a link it talks about the school. The biggest problem is getting in and really would be nice if you had prior knowledge? But as there's a phone number and you know where they're located It's worth giving them a call talking to them. Who knows maybe they have an opening right now maybe have a waiting list of the end of time. The only way to find out is give them a call.

https://mailinwatchrepair.com/sample-article-1/

On 1/31/2022 at 5:17 PM, LeaderOfTheBunch said:

I’ve been considering just getting a bachelor's degree at a community college (which my mom wants me to do)

As you don't want to leave home your choices become extremely limited. Maybe you should listen to your mother? Start the college get something practical get something Practical that you can make money with but don't give up watch repair?

Here's a nice suggestion that I've quoted

 

On 2/1/2022 at 1:23 AM, jdm said:

As mentioned, high quality, practical, results-targeted training is available from our Host Mark Lovick at watchfix.com. An average person can learn well how to service, diagnose and fix (by parts swapping) a watch in 6 months,

The nice thing about Mark's course is you don't have to physically go anywhere. It's recognized and well respected by everyone on this group. It's being taught by somebody who actually knows what watch repair is. Take the first course find out if you like watch repair.

 

[ifibrin]

On 2/2/2022 at 9:16 PM, JohnR725 said:

The nice thing about Mark's course is you don't have to physically go anywhere. It's recognized and well respected by everyone on this group. It's being taught by somebody who actually knows what watch repair is. Take the first course find out if you like watch repair.

@JohnR725 is right, Mark’s course is absolutely fantastic for learning the basics of practical watchmaking. Before you decide on whether you want to pursue watchmaking as a career, it would be best to see if you have the patience or dexterity needed to actually take apart and put back together a watch movement. In any event, choosing to enrol in a watchmaking school will require you to go for a bench test, and you better have had some practice doing so before! I would assume that those that get accepted have actually had experience in watchmaking before. Since you are in the US, I would expect you can get quality second hand vintage watchmaking tools for far cheaper and inexpensive shipping, compared to those of us in other parts of the world…

On 2/1/2022 at 9:17 AM, LeaderOfTheBunch said:

If I can’t find anything soon I’ve been considering just getting a bachelor's degree at a community college (which my mom wants me to do) and after that I could either move to Pennsylvania

Your mothers advice is the most suitable for someone who is undecided/ wants to keep their options open. Most watchmakers nowadays (outside Switzerland) actually join watchmaking as a mid-career change so enrolling in a degree at a community college leaves you with more career options. This is unless you manage to secure an apprenticeship at an experienced watchmakers repair shop, or you manage to somehow secure a place at a watchmaking school right out of high school.