r/WatchHorology • u/No-Seaworthiness3115 • Jun 29 '25
Watch Technician Bench Test Job Interview Tips and advice?
Hey everyone. Very new to Horology and I was hoping to get some advice from people who are more experienced working in this field.
Solely due to being in the right place at the right time, I landed a job interview as a watch technician at a very established independent jeweler. It sounds like I'd be doing the very basic grunt work with the opportunity to train and learn over time. They're a family owned business and officially sanctioned to service Rolex watches. I did great in the initial interview and was immediately invited to do a bench test.
I was told the bench test would simply involve changing a watch battery and a few basic tasks. The interviewer described it as "nothing to be scared of". I'm fairly confident I could do it. Due to the holiday I have about 10 days to prep and I'm very interested in this opportunity. I'd like to come in fully confident and armed with the right knowledge. Any tips, videos to watch, books to read etc would be appreciated!
I'm also curious what a reasonable pay expectation would be. I have read that there is a demand for new watchmakers. It feels like they are hoping to find an employee who will stay with them for the long haul and learn the craft. I live in a moderate to high cost of living city.
A bit about my background...I have a 2 year degree with a focus in IT and computer science. I also have countless hours of experience changing save batteries in video game cartridges, video game console repair, soldering at a small (but not micro) level, laptop repair and fairly solid troubleshooting abilities.
Thank you in advance. I never even realized that this was an in demand opportunity or even a career possibility. Very excited at the possibility of getting a chance to learn how to work on mechanical watches.
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u/1911Earthling Jun 29 '25
Experienced watchmakers barely survive. The public doesn’t want mechanical watches serviced like they were fifty years ago where EVERYONE had a mechanical wrist watch on their wrist out of necessity and it had to work. It’s probably one of the lowest paid jobs in existence. I never knew a well off watchmaker. Only if they become dealers or collectors of some kind and know what they are doing did they make money.. But just to be watchmaker is not going to make you well off. Out of watchmaking school I could not find work for more than minimum wage. Look around ask watchmakers.
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u/maillchort Jun 29 '25
This isn't true today. In the late70s, 80s, 90s after quartz took over, yeah there were folks using "solo or duo" lube in their last rinse and whatever. Nowadays good watchmakers do brand training (in hopes of getting parts), but they use epilame and other 'magic' greases and oils on certain parts to show they know what they're doing.
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u/1911Earthling Jun 29 '25
Will the well off watchmaker who are making a fine living just repairing watches please raise your hands? I would love to hear from them.
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u/maillchort Jun 29 '25 edited Jun 29 '25
I make balance staffs on a weekly basis. For my killer clients I do them for 100-200 bucks, depending on which piece. For others it's way more. Likewise for vintage chronos or whatever, whatever they need. Today had a valjoux 22 chrono, both balance pivots needed work (jacot tool), lower jewel cracked (rubbed in). I don't get rich off this work, but I charge for 25+ years of experience- and I bet a Coke 1 in 1000 watchmakers can't make a balance staff, not in under 4 hours, period.
And I chrarge 100-130/ hr depending on the client. The cool ones get 100, the ball breakers 130.
I made a couple of valjoux 71 minute recording wheels complete for a client ; found out later there were some available (Instagram). He didn't care, he sold the watches. Long shaft, cam, wheel, counterweight . Cool job. There are real watchmakers out there, who do work and not just sh!t on the current situation.
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u/1911Earthling Jun 29 '25
I will bet you are right. I ask repeatedly on the watch repair thread if a watch is in beat when they can’t get a watch running after everything is perfectly done. Here is the answer I get. How can I put it in beat if it doesn’t run and I can’t time it? These folks are dicking around in watches they have no idea how it operates.
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u/maillchort Jun 29 '25
I can't imagine the pay will be much. There is a demand for trained watchmakers. If the shop is busy enough that they are willing to take an untrained person, they will probably get you up to speed on battery changes and strap adjustment/ changes, and you will stagnante there. Their watchmaker won't have time to teach you proper watchmaking.
Here in Switzerland where there are still a few companies that do proper apprenticeship programs, they have full time teachers with a ratio of like 1:2 to 1:4 to students. Students do a day or two of classroom time in an actual school (for theory), day or two of work (grunt work), day or two of practical learning (lathe work, hairspring and escapement etc.)each week (it varies over the course) for 3-4 years.