Watchmaker Certifications?

[tranny]

Ok, so I need some info, from watchmakers, preferably. I have lots of very specific questions...

How do I know what brands a watchmaker REALLY knows? Are there manufacturer certifications for working with specific brands? Other than working with an AD's staff watchmaker, how would I know what brands another watchmaker is qualified to work on?

Does a watchmaking degree from one of the big schools qualify someone to work on ANY watch?

Are degreed watchmakers inherently capable of inspecting any brand of watch to determine legitimacy? I.e if I wanted to validate a Panerai, could I take it to a primarily Rolex guy for verification? Do they have special resources they use for comparison or something?

If I had to service a watch, would I be ok going to a degreed or certified watchmaker who's not associated with an AD?

Thanks... I know it's a lot of questions. Just trying to figure out how the business works.