Watchmaker
A watchmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs watches. Since a majority of watches are now factory-made, most modern watchmakers only repair watches. However, originally they were master craftsmen who built watches, including all their parts, by hand.[1][2] Modern watchmakers, when required to repair older watches, for which replacement parts may not be available, must have fabrication skills, and can typically manufacture replacements for many of the parts found in a watch. The term clockmaker refers to an equivalent occupation specializing in clocks.
Most practising professional watchmakers service current or recent production watches. They seldom fabricate replacement parts. Instead they obtain and fit factory spare parts applicable to the watch brand being serviced. The majority of modern watchmakers, particularly in
Due to factory/genuine spare parts restrictions, an increasing minority of watchmakers in the US are 'independent,' meaning that they choose not to work directly for industry or at a factory service center. One major Swiss watch brand – Rolex – now pre-qualifies independent watchmakers before they provide them with spare parts. This qualification may include, but is not limited to, holding a modern training certificate from one of several reputable schools; having a workshop environment that meets Rolex's standards for cleanliness; using modern equipment; and being a member of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute. The Omega brand has the same approach. However, the vast majority of modern Swiss brands do not sell parts to independent watchmakers, irrespective of the watchmaker's expertise, training or credentials. This industry policy is thought to enable Swiss manufacturers to maintain tighter quality control of the after-sales service for its watch brands, produce high margins on after sales services (two to four times what an independent watchmaker would ask), and to reduce the availability of second-hand watchmaking parts on the used and fake market.[citation needed]
Training
Historically, in England, watchmakers would have to undergo a seven-year
Watchmaker as metaphor
William Paley and others used the watchmaker in his famous analogy to imply the existence of God (the teleological argument) .
Richard Dawkins later applied this analogy in his book The Blind Watchmaker, arguing that evolution is blind in that it cannot look forward.
In popular culture
In the NBC television series
In the scifi novel
In the 2015 major motion picture film Survivor directed by James McTeigue, one of the world's most wanted killers is played by Pierce Brosnan, who demonstrates just how devastating the precision skill sets of a watchmaker can be as he plays the role of 'Nash,' a professional killer who excels at bomb making and long-range shooting.
Historical watchmakers
- Jehan-Jacques Blancpain
- Stefan Anderson
- Ferdinand Berthoud
- Abraham Louis Breguet
- John Alker
- John Arnold
- Jean-Marc Vacheron
- George Daniels
- John Harrison
- Peter Henlein
- Christiaan Huygens
- Antide Janvier
- Jean-Antoine Lépine
- Thomas Mudge
- Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec
- Hubert Sarton
- Thomas Tompion
- Gérald Genta
See also
- Chronometer watch
- Clockmaker
- Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH
- History of timekeeping devices
- Marine chronometer
- National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors
- Perlée or pearl pattern
- Watch
Further reading
- Fried, Henry B. (2013). The Watch Repairer's Manual. Vermont: Echo Point Books & Media, LLC. ISBN 978-1-6265-4998-2.
References
- ^ Berthoud, Ferdinand; Auch, Jacob (2016). How to Make a Verge Watch. p. 218. Archived from the original on 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ Vigniaux (2011). Practical Watchmaking. p. 176. Archived from the original on 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
External links
- Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH
- American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute
- British Horological Institute
- Institute of Swiss Watchmaking
- AFAHA - Association française des amateurs d'horlogerie ancienne
- ANCAHA - Association nationale des collectionneurs et amateurs d'horlogerie ancienne et d'art
- Association horlogerie comtoise
- Swiss watch industry denies 'Nokia moment' from new Apple Watch