Comments on: Watchmaking and the State of the Current Economy http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/ A mechanical watchmaker in a digital world Fri, 18 May 2012 18:45:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: toran szewczyk http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-37275 toran szewczyk Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:59:21 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-37275 Thanks for the info. Just got accepted into LWT today! Thanks for the info. Just got accepted into LWT today!

]]> By: J.Edwards http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-36092 J.Edwards Fri, 03 Jun 2011 04:41:21 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-36092 Pursuing just about any skilled trade today will land you a stable career, especially in North America. The US is still in short supply of talented watchmakers and watch technicians. East of the Atlantic, the latest reports from Switzerland, just this past month, are that Swatch Group and Richemont are vying to fill some 2500 skilled jobs in the watchmaking sector over the next year or so and qualified workers are in short supply. Pursuing just about any skilled trade today will land you a stable career, especially in North America. The US is still in short supply of talented watchmakers and watch technicians. East of the Atlantic, the latest reports from Switzerland, just this past month, are that Swatch Group and Richemont are vying to fill some 2500 skilled jobs in the watchmaking sector over the next year or so and qualified workers are in short supply.

]]> By: toran szewczyk http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-36038 toran szewczyk Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:44:36 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-36038 Any update to the current state of watchmaking as a career? I'm going in to interview at LWT on Friday but I still question how the economy has effected the luxury market and the viability of watchmaking as a stable career. Any update to the current state of watchmaking as a career? I’m going in to interview at LWT on Friday but I still question how the economy has effected the luxury market and the viability of watchmaking as a stable career.

]]> By: Logginz http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-10004 Logginz Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:17:51 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-10004 This is a great site everyone seems to be very helpful and informative. I am 24 and have recently became an unemployed carpenter. My grandfather was a watchmaker, and it is something that i have loved for many years. At one point it was a dream, but now im wondering if i should use this time, and some up the funding availiable, to go to watchmaking school. Im just looking for some comments. thanks This is a great site everyone seems to be very helpful and informative. I am 24 and have recently became an unemployed carpenter. My grandfather was a watchmaker, and it is something that i have loved for many years. At one point it was a dream, but now im wondering if i should use this time, and some up the funding availiable, to go to watchmaking school. Im just looking for some comments. thanks

]]> By: J.Edwards http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-5441 J.Edwards Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:53:52 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-5441 Hi Philip, You're welcome. Finding a job that you love truly is key, and I can't say it any better than a passage I recently read in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ECC%203;&version=31;" rel="nofollow">Ecclesiates</a>. <i>That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.</i> Best of success as you prepare to head to Lititz for your entrance exams! Hi Philip,

You’re welcome. Finding a job that you love truly is key, and I can’t say it any better than a passage I recently read in Ecclesiates. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

Best of success as you prepare to head to Lititz for your entrance exams!

]]> By: Philip http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-5419 Philip Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:02:36 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-5419 Thank you for the detailed response to my inquiry. The advice is very helpful. As I indicated may have before, I have applied to LWT and I'm still very excited about the prospect of studying/practicing watchmaking. I realize that finding my ideal job in my ideal location may be difficult but that can apply to any profession. If I'm lucky enough to study at Lititz and receive the education I need to be successful, I've decided to let the chips fall where they may. Finding the profession that you love is the key and the rest (for the most part) is just details. It's encouraging to hear that the economic downturn hasn't had a tremendous effect on your business. Continued success to you and thank you again for the always informative posts. Thank you for the detailed response to my inquiry. The advice is very helpful. As I indicated may have before, I have applied to LWT and I’m still very excited about the prospect of studying/practicing watchmaking.
I realize that finding my ideal job in my ideal location may be difficult but that can apply to any profession. If I’m lucky enough to study at Lititz and receive the education I need to be successful, I’ve decided to let the chips fall where they may. Finding the profession that you love is the key and the rest (for the most part) is just details.
It’s encouraging to hear that the economic downturn hasn’t had a tremendous effect on your business. Continued success to you and thank you again for the always informative posts.

]]> By: J.Edwards http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-5418 J.Edwards Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:05:51 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-5418 I am glad to hear that you wouldn't trade your experience in Alabama, Wnkt. I have heard similar recollections from a number of watchmakers. I too, was fortunate to have several jobs steered towards me by my professors before I graduated - the furthest away being all the way over in England! I thoughtfully considered each and every one and ultimately, like J.Peter, ended up within a day's drive of my ideal location. I agree with you 100%, J.Peter, that flexibility on everything but quality is the key to being successful. It is going to be very interesting to see where the future of SAV is headed, Prem. There is unquestionably a need for more qualified watchmakers in North America. I believe that another point of concern, too, is educating the public to recognize quality (or at least correct) workmanship and to demand professional service. I am glad to hear that you wouldn’t trade your experience in Alabama, Wnkt. I have heard similar recollections from a number of watchmakers. I too, was fortunate to have several jobs steered towards me by my professors before I graduated – the furthest away being all the way over in England! I thoughtfully considered each and every one and ultimately, like J.Peter, ended up within a day’s drive of my ideal location.

I agree with you 100%, J.Peter, that flexibility on everything but quality is the key to being successful.

It is going to be very interesting to see where the future of SAV is headed, Prem. There is unquestionably a need for more qualified watchmakers in North America. I believe that another point of concern, too, is educating the public to recognize quality (or at least correct) workmanship and to demand professional service.

]]> By: Prem C http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-5416 Prem C Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:19:37 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-5416 Gentlemen, Watchmakers need to be more resourceful than ever, and be savvy for various options. Before I set foot into Canada, or the U.S. I did my homework, I even had a job offer in the U.S. whilst at work in the U.K. I found this particular listing very resourceful as in the quality of the watchmaker jobs keep appearing interestingly- obviously they are getting filled...lol! http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=%22Watchmaker%22 Anyway, back to the economics. I personally think that with so many problems associated with the training and education of watchmakers, little wonder that what is out there is less of qualified. It is a very well researched and documented fact! Swiss houses in economic downturn moments literally export even their repairs back to base ie: Switzerland. I know of several companies in the U.S. sending back repairs of any and every model, quartz even, and mechanical watches back to their respective factories- why you might ask? Logistically it is better for them to send back to the company in Switzerland rather than face the possibility of sub-standard work, or of equally distressing the fact that watchmakers simply do not want to move around! Ok, granted that if you are somewhat past the prime of your life, it is indeed difficult to accept such changes like locations or typically job profile changes- they do cause a lot of stress. I would like more flexibility, in say a watchmaker that has been working from home to move to an office type atmosphere, and vice versa, yet that doesn't always happen! When you come to a certain age, it just isn't worth it..and that attitude, will eventually dictate the future trends to come. Given the fact that there are more watchmakers in their early 60's than ever. In my very honest opinion, there are millions of watches, automatic or mechanical, in North America alone, and there are too few watchmakers to do them. Postal services are great, and so is the possibility of cheap and safe communications like e-mail, telephones, fax etc. Organising heavy duty repair centres will be the next turnkey element in SAV technologies, only will the Swiss watch companies comply with spare parts policies being governed mafia style? That dear fellow watchmakers is the million dollar question! Cheers and Happy Easter Jp and Jon! Prem Gentlemen, Watchmakers need to be more resourceful than ever, and be savvy for various options. Before I set foot into Canada, or the U.S. I did my homework, I even had a job offer in the U.S. whilst at work in the U.K. I found this particular listing very resourceful as in the quality of the watchmaker jobs keep appearing interestingly- obviously they are getting filled…lol!
http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=%22Watchmaker%22
Anyway, back to the economics. I personally think that with so many problems associated with the training and education of watchmakers, little wonder that what is out there is less of qualified. It is a very well researched and documented fact! Swiss houses in economic downturn moments literally export even their repairs back to base ie: Switzerland. I know of several companies in the U.S. sending back repairs of any and every model, quartz even, and mechanical watches back to their respective factories- why you might ask? Logistically it is better for them to send back to the company in Switzerland rather than face the possibility of sub-standard work, or of equally distressing the fact that watchmakers simply do not want to move around! Ok, granted that if you are somewhat past the prime of your life, it is indeed difficult to accept such changes like locations or typically job profile changes- they do cause a lot of stress. I would like more flexibility, in say a watchmaker that has been working from home to move to an office type atmosphere, and vice versa, yet that doesn’t always happen! When you come to a certain age, it just isn’t worth it..and that attitude, will eventually dictate the future trends to come. Given the fact that there are more watchmakers in their early 60′s than ever. In my very honest opinion, there are millions of watches, automatic or mechanical, in North America alone, and there are too few watchmakers to do them. Postal services are great, and so is the possibility of cheap and safe communications like e-mail, telephones, fax etc. Organising heavy duty repair centres will be the next turnkey element in SAV technologies, only will the Swiss watch companies comply with spare parts policies being governed mafia style? That dear fellow watchmakers is the million dollar question! Cheers and Happy Easter Jp and Jon!
Prem

]]> By: J.Peter http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-5415 J.Peter Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:47:32 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-5415 I absolutely agree that you need to be willing to move. Wanting to work in the west I feel like I was pretty lucky ending up within a days drive of my ideal location, but you can believe I set up interviews with many jewelers all over the country. Flexibility on everything but quality is key if you want to be successful. I absolutely agree that you need to be willing to move. Wanting to work in the west I feel like I was pretty lucky ending up within a days drive of my ideal location, but you can believe I set up interviews with many jewelers all over the country. Flexibility on everything but quality is key if you want to be successful.

]]> By: wnkt http://watchmakingblog.com/2009/04/12/watchmaking-and-the-state-of-the-current-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-5413 wnkt Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:34:07 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/?p=793#comment-5413 I was a watchmaking student way back in 1984 and there were only 4 students that graduated. Not that there were a lot of failures, there just weren't that many in the class. The school I attended was actually a technical college, which no longer offers the course because the teacher retired several years after I left. I was lucky, I got a job before I left school because a jewelry store owner was looking for a watchmaker and the teacher steered the offer toward me. There was one catch, this job was over 500 miles away from home, I was in South Carolina and the job was in Alabama. So what you were saying that you may have to move to get a job is very true. I was only a year out of high school and on my own away from home and working. I ended up staying there for 8 years and it was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything! I was a watchmaking student way back in 1984 and there were only 4 students that graduated. Not that there were a lot of failures, there just weren’t that many in the class.
The school I attended was actually a technical college, which no longer offers the course because the teacher retired several years after I left.
I was lucky, I got a job before I left school because a jewelry store owner was looking for a watchmaker and the teacher steered the offer toward me. There was one catch, this job was over 500 miles away from home, I was in South Carolina and the job was in Alabama. So what you were saying that you may have to move to get a job is very true. I was only a year out of high school and on my own away from home and working.
I ended up staying there for 8 years and it was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything!

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