Who is a watchmaker and what do they do? The watchmaker ‘s work consists of manufacturing, adjusting and repairing clocks, watches or similar products.
What are the activities of the job? Activities of the job comprise manufacturing assembly, adjustment and repairs of alarm clocks, clocks, wrist watches, and other timepieces, electronic clocks with mechanical or crystal oscillators and with analogue displays, tower-clocks, replacement of their parts, such as glass, hands, tensioning springs, lubrication of the mechanism of clocks and watches, production of functional prototypes and specimens.
Where is it done and under what conditions? This work is carried out in watchmaker’s shops as well as places where equipment for measuring time is installed (public areas, air/train/coach terminals, offices, industrial premises). Sometimes it is necessary to work on items that are awkward to get at or in relatively inaccessible places, and sometimes you may be outside, exposed to the weather. However the work is usually done sitting down, in a working environment that is fairly comfortable.
What tools/equipment do they use? The most commonly used tools and equipment used by the watchmaker include watchmaker ‘s lathes, measuring instruments, hand tools and implements for precise mechanical and assembly work. Above all, manual dexterity is needed.
What do you need to succeed? Basic qualifications for this job include education to skilled craft level, manual dexterity, technical imagination, ability to put things together, good eyesight and accuracy.