Watchmaking School Advice

[IloveWaches]

Hello everyone, names Matt new to the forum but not new to watches. Ive been working on and restoring watches for a good 4years. Ive worked on everything from Patek to seikos. The big question I have and hopefully one of the expert watchmakers here can shed a little light on my ??? I applied to two watchmaking schools one in Miami (Nicolas Hayek) and in Dallas (NAIOSW)
normally is a job given at the completion of the school? Ive heard both yes and no. Also im intrested in the end to work for rolex what corse of action would be the best to take to get into the company (Rolex).


Thanks in advance and happy holidays everyone.

[Watchcollectables]

Hi , what is your working experience so far?

[bdex75]

I would assume you have looked into Lititz in Pennsylvania? I believe that is the one that Rolex has some sort of affiliation with?? May be incorrect there. But the watchmakers that I know that have worked for Rolex have all went there. Maybe coincidence


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[IloveWaches]

Originally Posted by Watchcollectables

Hi , what is your working experience so far?

I have over 4+years of experience from complicated chronographs,to perpetual calandars to regular eta 2824,2895,ect. Also I specialize in complicated chronographs. My family owned a jewlery/watch shop in FL and I learned first hand from the watchmaker we had there which he had over 50 yrs of experience.

[MikeMc]

The watchmaking school in Lititz Pennsylvania is indeed owned by Rolex. I would apply to any school that teaches the WOSTEP method. Seattle Community College is one. Rolex helps support the WOSTEP schools.


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[Watchcollectables]

Originally Posted by IloveWaches

I have over 4+years of experience from complicated chronographs,to perpetual calandars to regular eta 2824,2895,ect. Also I specialize in complicated chronographs. My family owned a jewlery/watch shop in FL and I learned first hand from the watchmaker we had there which he had over 50 yrs of experience.

Wow you have achieved all this in 4 years in a family jewellery store and you now want to go to a watchmakers training school ??
If you say you specialise in complicated Chronographs and perpetual calendars then I suggest you start teaching it !!

[Assquatch]

I would recommend studying and sitting for the CW21 exam. If you already have a good deal of experience and training, 2 years of school may be more than you need. School is a good way to learn in a holistic fashion that teaches manufacturing through modern service so that you can tackle any repair you come across. In the end you get a certificate which is what you need to get a job. If you have been trained thoroughly you should be able to take the cw21 exam and get a certificate. That is basically what the cw21 exists for; certifying watchmakers who have been trained but haven't been through a formal education in watchmaking.
If you feel like school is for you, the 2 wostep schools in the Country are in Dallas and Miami at the Richemont and swatch schools, respectively. SAWTA is the curriculum and certificate taught at the schools in lititz, PA, Seattle, WA and Okamulgee, OK. I am familiar with both and would recommend SAWTA, it is geared more toward problem solving and all around watch repair whereas WOSTEP teaches more toward modern service center work focusing on repetition, memorization and movement only servicing.

[steviebeat]

I would advise against working for Rolex. They use a sequential system servicing watches so you only do a part of the job repeatedly not the whole watch so its tremendously boring and you would most probably have someone on your back regarding productivity.

If I was you I would look to work in an accredited workshop. Much more varied work load and you get to polish too so you become a much more skilled worker.

I knew someone who came to work at a place I was working who had been at Rolex all their working life and they couldn't even open some case backs with a knife. All you get to know is your small part of the small world of Rolex.