Rolex watch school?

[ROLEX4EvEr]

Is there a place in the USA that can teach you to fix watches, like where does Rolex hire there Techs. I would be cool to learn how to Fix/maintain Rolexs, I would take care of this board.

[mikey]

That would be cool

[tonelar]

here's a good place to start...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...chmaker22.html

North Seattle Community College offers the only watchmaking program certified by the Watchmakers of Switzerland Technical Education Program. For further information about admissions and registration, contact the school at 206-527-3663.

[ROLEX4EvEr]

Thanks Tony Seattle is way to far but thank you for the info. If there was something in NYC I would be there fast!! But I doubt a Rolex Tech makes as much as a Auto Salesman.

[Gedanken]

I do believe Timezone conducts mail-order watchmaking courses. Ask Avalon about them.

[tonelar]

Seattle is the only western school that certifies its graduates.

I'd phone them anyways, the article mentions New Jersey as well as other East Coast locations for Swiss Watchmaking Schools.

[DIVER4USN]

Damn sure not as much as a Bentley salesman!

[leopardprey]

IWC has a 4 year apprentice program, but it is only offered to people from the countries surrounding Switzerland and Switzerland itself.

www.iwc.ch

[tonelar]

I think the idea is that you wouldn't have to quit your day job to repair and refurbish watches... I work my 50 hours a week as a fireman and still hobby with buying bikes, fixing them up and then selling them...

[Uncle-AJ]

Sky News did a report on this very subject the other day. I think the link below will take you to it. I couldn't check it out myself due to a slow connection.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/vi...p28009,00.html

[Blue Bull]

I think that will be fascinating,to do a course like that !!

Originally Posted by ROLEX4EvEr

Is there a place in the USA that can teach you to fix watches, like where does Rolex hire there Techs. I would be cool to learn how to Fix/maintain Rolexs, I would take care of this board.

Rolex has a school in Lititz, PA, plus there are 3 other WOSTEP schools in the US. They are at St. Paul's College in MN, the North Seattle Community College school noted in other posts, and one at Oklahoma State. If you are serious about this I would recommend a WOSTEP school as that will open more doors for you.

As James noted below, a good place to start before turning your life upside-down to start a new career would be the TZ Watch School. I've done both levels and it gives you some of the basics, and will let you see if you have the patience and dexterity required to do the simple tasks. Of course this is not true "watchmaking" but more the basics of servicing I would say. There isn't much theory, and you won't be able to change a balance staff or straighten a hairspring when you are done, for example. Even basic troubleshooting and regulation isn't covered, and I just picked that up on my own and by reading books. You also do not learn how to make parts or use any of the "bigger" watchmaking tools (such as a lathe), but it is a good place to learn a bit more about how these watches work.

If you want a taste of what watchmaking school is really like, you should check out these articles by someone who went through it. I personally found them fascinating, and I learned a lot just reading about what he's done. If this sort of thing does not appeal to you, then it's probably not something you want to pursue seriously. If you just want a hobby like me, then the TZ school is the place to start.

Hope this helps.

http://www.tp178.com/jd/watch-school/1/article1.html

http://www.tp178.com/jd/watch-school/2/article2.html

http://www.tp178.com/jd/watch-school/3/ws3a.html

http://www.tp178.com/jd/watch-school/4/article1.html

http://www.tp178.com/jd/watch-school/5/article[1a].html

http://www.tp178.com/jd/watch-school/6/article.html

[tonelar]

Thanks Avalon,

I had no idea TZ did an online school thing... I'm going to definitely check them out...

[ROLEX4EvEr]

Originally Posted by DIVER4USN

Damn sure not as much as a Bentley salesman!

I dont sell Bentleys yet!! (might start in March) but Auto Sales does pay the bills . A good salesman with ZERO College degree or High School Dipolma can make from 45,000 to 150,000 a Year. Finance (Managers) make about $300,000.

Thanks guys for the info I will look into it.

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by ROLEX4EvEr

I dont sell Bentleys yet!! (might start in March) but Auto Sales does pay the bills . A good salesman with ZERO College degree or High School Dipolma can make from 45,000 to 150,000 a Year. Finance (Managers) make about $300,000.

Thanks guys for the info I will look into it.

Then you can buy a $3k dog.

[jimcameron]

Originally Posted by ROLEX4EvEr

Is there a place in the USA that can teach you to fix watches, like where does Rolex hire there Techs. I would be cool to learn how to Fix/maintain Rolexs, I would take care of this board.

There is no way that a guy that sells autos has the patience to fix watches. The two personality types are mutually exclusive. Consider getting a sales job in a high end jewelry/watch shop. If you enjoy selling high end cars, you will not be happy sequestered in a booth with a light and tools and no/little customer contact. Go with your strengths.

Now, if you enjoy relieving the stress of your sales job with some manual dexterity type work, I guess it could be a sideline or you could do it for mental health type relaxation, but bare in mind that a really skilled watchmaker is a very disiplined individual, who's achievments are quiet and usually un-sung.

On the othe hand, not being from Brooklyn.....I might not understand.

[jimcameron]

Originally Posted by ROLEX4EvEr

Finance (Managers) make about $300,000.

They may need it for future health care issues. I have never met one that didn't chain smoke. I'm an easy finance when I buy a car, they love seeing me sit down. But how would you like to have some salesmen lurking around your office that just "sold" a Bently to an Asst. manager from McDonalds Hamburgers and as the finance guy, you are the only thing between the "salesman" and his commission? No wonder they chain smoke.