When people want to know the time, they often just look at the watches on their wrists. With so many people wearing them, a career as a watch repairer could be a good choice for anyone with the ability to do detailed work.

Watches might look simple from the outside, but they can be very complicated inside. Watch repairers need to know all about the batteries and mechanisms inside the watches so that they can find out what is wrong if, for example, the watch is running fast or slow. They also need to know how to clean watches, attach new bands to them, and do many other tasks to help watches work well. If they work alone or in small shops, they also need to deal with customers and keep track of payments, supplies, and other needs of the business.

Repairing watches requires an ability to use a variety of tools, from tiny screwdrivers to large drill presses and other machines. People in this type of work might need a certain amount of strength to use the larger machines, but they also need steady hands and good vision to be able to work with very tiny objects. Cleaning watches is a large part of the job, and people need to be able to take watches apart and put them back together.

In some shops, watch repair people also need to estimate costs of repairs and be able to communicate well with customers. They might work alone or with a group of people in the same shop. In larger businesses, they might have no contact with customers.

Canada used to have many places where students could learn to repair watches., but many of them have closed. The Ecole Nationale d’Horlogerie in Trois Rivieres, Quebec is a good option for students who are able to study in French. Granton Institute of Technology in Toronto still teaches watch repair in English. Online courses are useful and learning on the job is another good way of becoming qualified. In some parts of Canada, certification is required to work in watch repair.

You can already begin to prepare for this career in high school. Classes in mathematics or business management can help with running a store, and any courses that help with manual dexterity can help. For example, a class in electronics could teach you how to handle small tools and delicate mechanisms.

Working hours can vary for people in this field. In most shops, people can expect to work during regular opening hours. Still, deadlines for finishing a repair might mean working late into the evening or beginning early in the morning.

Salaries for people in this field can vary, depending on their level of experience and where they work. The job is very close to watchmaking, where people generally earn between $28,000 and $78,000 per year. Watch repairers can expect to earn somewhat less, but their salaries are often very good, as well. As with other jobs, experience helps to increase people’s ability to earn a good salary.

Watches are always changing, and the people who repair them need to keep their knowledge current. The need for watch repair might eventually decrease, but it is still a good career to choose.

Bibliography:

Canadian Universities. “Clock Servicing and Watch Repair Ontario.” http://www.canadian-universities.net/Career-Colleges/Programs/Clock_Servicing_and_Watch_Repair-Ontario.html

ICS Canada. “Online Jewelry Design and Repair School.” https://www.icslearn.ca/programs/creative-design/jewelry-design-and-repair.

Indeed. “Watchmaker/Watch Repairer.” https://ca.indeed.com/cmp/Ottawa-Swiss-Watch-Services/jobs/Watchmaker-7838db7c6f3d0a31?q=Watch+Repair&vjs=3.

Muschi, Christine. “Time is Running Out for Canada’s Last Watchmaking School.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-is-running-out-for-canadas-last-watchmaking-school/article4899835/.

My Plan. “Watch Repairers.” https://www.myplan.com/careers/watch-repairers/description-49-9064.00.html.

Payscale.com. “Watchmaker Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Watchmaker/Salary