Watch and clock repairer

Watch and clock repairers maintain and repair wristwatches and clocks. They identify defects, change batteries, fit new straps, oil and replace damaged parts. They may also restore antique clocks.

Watch and clock repairers typically do the following:

• take apart and inspect watches or clocks to identify faults
• replace batteries
• clean and oil parts
• make new parts to replace worn ones
• check items are working accurately
• fit new watch straps
• etch or engrave designs onto a watch face
• maintain and repair equipment and keep the workshop clean
• talk to customers directly or to sales staff about what work needs to be done

The following job titles also refer to watch and clock repairer:

watch and clock fixer
watch and clock repairman
chronometrist
time piece fixer
watch and clock restorer

Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates as watch repairers. A few vocational high schools give courses in watch repairing. Some watch repairers get informal on-the-job training from experienced workers. Most watch repairers, however, learn their trade in special watch repair schools. Courses in these schools usually last one to three years. Students learn to use the tools and machines of the trade, and they learn how to recognize and solve repair problems.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Watch and clock repairer is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to watch and clock repairer.

consumer electronics repair technician
jewellery repairer
household appliances repair technician
computer hardware repair technician
bicycle mechanic

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of watch and clock repairer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of watch and clock repairer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

wedding planner
body artist
life coach
beauty salon manager
tourism contract negotiator

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of watch and clock repairer.

• Electric clocks: Clocks and watches that use electrical power to measure the passing of time, such as electric, electronic, digital or quartz clocks and watches.
• Mechanical clocks: Clocks and watches that use a mechanical mechanism to measure the passing of time.
• Components of clocks: Components present in clocks and watches, such as the wheelwork, battery, dials, and hands.

These skills are necessary for the role of watch and clock repairer.

• Apply company policies: Apply the principles and rules that govern the activities and processes of an organisation.
• Inspect clocks: Inspect clocks and watches and their components for any defects, deterioration or damage. Check electronic timepieces with measuring and testing instruments.
• Repair clocks: Identify problems on clocks or watches, check for deterioration, disassemble parts, regulate, adjust, and replace deficient components.
• Demagnetise watches: Use a demagnetiser to remove magnetism from watches that have obtained these magnetic properties because of the presence of metals at a close distance.
• Use watchmaker’s tools: Use tools commonly used for watchmaking and repairing. Common categories include band tools, watch battery tools, cleaning tools, screwdrivers, brushes, flex shaft, loupes or magnifiers, tap and die sets, watch testers, watch repair kits, watch crystal tools, watch back openers, gauges, glues, demagnitisers, hammers, oils, watch movement tools, bergeon watch tools, horotec watch tools, watch hand tools, soldering tools, watch polishing tools, and tweezers.
• Change watch battery: Change the batteries of customers’ wrist watches.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Use repair manuals: Apply the information, such as periodic maintenance charts, step by step repair instructions, troubleshooting information and overhaul procedures to perform routine maintenance and repairs.
• Attach clock cases: Attach clock or watch case to enclose and protect the clockwork or module.
• Maintain customer service: Keep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requirements.
• Operate battery test equipment: Operate equipment used for battery testing, such as a soldering iron, a battery tester, or a multimeter. Detect flaws affecting the battery’s performance, test the battery’s capacity for accumulating charge, or test its voltage output.
• Replace defect components: Remove defective parts and replace them with functioning components.
• Mount clock wheelwork: Mount the wheelwork components of clocks and watches and attach with screws.
• Use precision tools: Use electronic, mechanical, electric, or optical precision tools for precision work.
• Provide customer information related to repairs: Inform customers about necessary repairs or replacements, discuss products, services and costs, include accurate technical information.
• Maintain clocks: Clean and remove grease from clock and watch components, apply oil to hinges, adjust components, and store them in a waterproof space.
• Provide customer follow-up services: Register, follow-up, solve and respond to customer requests, complaints and after-sales services.
• Attach clock dials: Attach dials or clock faces to clocks or watches.
• Attach clock hands: Attach the hour, minute, and second clock or watch hands to the clockface using hex nuts and wrenches. Ensure that the hands on the clockface are parallel and aligned.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of watch and clock repairer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of watch and clock repairer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manage schedule of tasks: Maintain an overview of all the incoming tasks in order to prioritise the tasks, plan their execution, and integrate new tasks as they present themselves.
• Advise customers on jewellery and watches: Provide customers with detailed advice on watches and pieces of jewellery available in the store. Explain about different brands and models and their characteristics and features. Recommend and provide personal advice on pieces of jewellery, according to the customer’s needs and preferences.
• Order supplies: Command products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.
• Handle jewellery and watches insurance claims: Provide assistance to customers whose watches or jewelleries have been stolen or damaged. Communicate with insurance companies in order to quickly replace or refund items.
• Manage a small-to-medium business: Manage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.
• Maintain relationship with suppliers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.
• Attach pendulums: Attach clock pendulums to the pendulum guide behind the face of the clock.
• Ensure compliance with warranty contracts: Implement and monitor repairs and/or replacements by the supplier in compliance with warranty contracts.
• Maintain professional administration: File and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.
• Administer appointments: Accept, schedule and cancel appointments.
• Apply precision metalworking techniques: Comply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.
• Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
• Negotiate supplier arrangements: Reach an agreement with the supplier upon technical, quantity, quality, price, conditions, storage, packaging, send-back and other requirements related to the purchasing and delivering process.
• Restore antique clocks: Bring back antique clocks to their original or a refurbished state, by repairing or replacing defect components, cleaning and oiling parts and checking for accuracy of time-keeping.
• Issue sales invoices: Prepare the invoice of goods sold or services provided, containing individual prices, the total charge, and the terms. Complete order processing for orders received via telephone, fax and internet and calculate the customer’s final bill.
• Sell clocks: Sell clocks, watches, or related accessories according to the customer’s preferences.
• Keep stock records: Keep written records of the amount of stock in storage, incoming and outgoing products required for the proper operation of services, repairs and maintenance tasks.

7311 – Precision-instrument makers and repairers

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References

1. Watch and clock repairer – ESCO
2. Watch or clock repairer | Explore careers – National Careers Service
3. Watch Repairer Job Description – StateUniversity.com
4. Featured image: Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels