Additional Information
Watchmaking and clockmaking can be learned through correspondence courses,
attending a watchmakers' school or taking university courses.
"If someone could actually relocate to a watchmakers' school for a specific
period of time, this would be the best education possible," says clockmaker
Mike Murray.
Clock or watchmakers who plan to open their own shops should have knowledge
of marketing and business management. Courses in those areas often are available
from technical schools and community colleges.
"Watchmakers have to be continually educated, because watches are always
changing," says Murray. "With the introduction of quartz and tuning forks,
for example, it's a whole different ball game."
Clockmaker Jeff Hamilton says that apprentices in older generations received
the highest caliber of training. Instructors would drive a nail through the
watch and say, "Now, make it run again."
Although they are hard to come by, apprenticeships are still the best way
to learn. Hamilton says that you need to find a clockmaker who will allow
you to work under him. But don't expect to draw a salary. The key thing to
make sure of is that the person you're going to work for is professionally
trained.
"It does you no good to go to work for a guy that retired and this is a
job he opened up to make a little extra income. It will do you no good to
learn bad skills," says Hamilton.