Watchmaking School

[gbcecil]

Hi Everyone!

I have searched the forum for information and opinions on all of the Watchmaking Schools. I did not see anything so I wanted to start the conversation.

I am a student at Oklahoma State University School of Watchmaking. Our program is sponsored by Rolex and the AWCI. We have the SAWTA curriculum. It is a two year program that runs year around. We will have an internship at Rolex Dallas as well as training directly from Rolex staff in the classroom.

What are some of the opinion of this and other schools?

Thanks.

[SearChart]

Seems like a great school, but isn't two years a bit short?

I'm studying watchmaking on Vakschool Schoonhoven in the Netherlands, it is a four year course with two 120 day internships. I'm also taught by Rolex watchmakers, but also Omega and other certified watchmakers.
I'm currently doing a 120 day internship at a Rolex Service Center and I'd like to do my second one at A. lange & Söhne.

[mnbookman]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Seems like a great school, but isn't two years a bit short?

I'm studying watchmaking on Vakschool Schoonhoven in the Netherlands, it is a four year course with two 120 day internships. I'm also taught by Rolex watchmakers, but also Omega and other certified watchmakers.
I'm currently doing a 120 day internship at a Rolex Service Center and I'd like to do my second one at A. lange & Söhne.

Did you attend year round?

[gbcecil]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Seems like a great school, but isn't two years a bit short?

I'm studying watchmaking on Vakschool Schoonhoven in the Netherlands, it is a four year course with two 120 day internships. I'm also taught by Rolex watchmakers, but also Omega and other certified watchmakers.
I'm currently doing a 120 day internship at a Rolex Service Center and I'd like to do my second one at A. lange & Söhne.

Sounds amazing! Unfortunately, there are no four year schools in the United States that I am aware of. Two years is a short time and it is highly recommended to work under another watchmaker after graduation.

Thank you for sharing.

[Vanessa CW21]

I did a 3-year program in Antwerp, Belgium. I can't really comment on the American programs, but I think the cost, and time invested vs. the opportunities, and pay-scale after graduation is way out of proportion. I will not encourage my kids to follow in my footsteps. There are plenty of better paying jobs out there, even some that don't require an extensive education!

[SearChart]

@bookman, at my school one can only attend once a year, like pretty much every other school here in the Netherlands.

Most watchmakers will be quite secure of a job but the pay is indeed nothing special, unless you really work your way to the top inside a haute horlogerie brand, your salary will then also rise.

Originally Posted by Vanessa CW21

I did a 3-year program in Antwerp, Belgium. I can't really comment on the American programs, but I think the cost, and time invested vs. the opportunities, and pay-scale after graduation is way out of proportion. I will not encourage my kids to follow in my footsteps. There are plenty of better paying jobs out there, even some that don't require an extensive education!

I have heard good things about the school in Antwerp

[mnbookman]

Sorry, I was asking as to whether or not you attend year round; how many weeks per year?

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by mnbookman

Sorry, I was asking as to whether or not you attend year round; how many weeks per year?

Yes, year round with some weeks of vacation. Take the vacation off and you're left with about 44 weeks of school per year.

[mnbookman]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Yes, year round with some weeks of vacation. Take the vacation off and you're left with about 44 weeks of school per year.

Thanks! We go 45 weeks, so you get approximately twice the hours we do. They push us quite a bit; I'm curious about the layout of your years (I'm at the same school gbcecil is).

[gbcecil]

Originally Posted by Vanessa CW21

I did a 3-year program in Antwerp, Belgium. I can't really comment on the American programs, but I think the cost, and time invested vs. the opportunities, and pay-scale after graduation is way out of proportion. I will not encourage my kids to follow in my footsteps. There are plenty of better paying jobs out there, even some that don't require an extensive education!

Thank you for the information. It is more of a passion for me and I plan to have my own business in Branson, Missouri.
You are certainly correct on the amount of education, even beyond the classroom. I will specialize on Rolex and that, as you know, it a mountainous task in itself.
As far as our school, Oklahoma State University, we will leave with SAWTA, CW21 and a college degree in Watchmaking.