Do you want to be a...

Watch and Clock Repairer

Also known as Horologist and Horological Technician.

Watch and clock repairers clean, repair and adjust mechanical and electronic timepieces.

The watch servicing industry uses both mechanical and electronic technologies.

There is more demand for electronic watch servicing, although an increase in the popularity of mechanical watches has resulted in an increased demand for their servicing.

Clock servicing focuses more on mechanical timepieces.

The age and variety of clocks places more demands on repairer skill, as parts are not easily available and movements need to be restored rather than simply repaired.

Watch and clock repairers spend extended periods at workbenches concentrating on detailed work.

TASKS

Watch and clock repairers may perform the following tasks:

• replace watch power sources such as batteries and capacitors
• perform minor repairs to watch parts including bands, glass, crown and winder
• test watches for water resistance to agreed depths and Australian standards
• renove watch and clock mechanisms from cases and examine them for signs of wear or damage
• repair or replace faulty parts such as cracked crystals, broken hands and bent teeth or wheels
• clean, test and lubricate watch and clock components
• test and analyse electronic circuits in quartz watches and clocks
• reassemble, fit and adjust timepieces to make sure they work correctly
• provide customers with description and estimated cost of repairs
• sell new and used watches and clocks to the public

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

• enjoy technical work
• good eyesight (may be corrected)
• above-average sensitivity of touch
• patience for fine, continuous work
• high level of cleanliness and tidiness
• good hand-eye coordination
• high level of organisational skills

EDUCATION & TRAINING