Watch Maker

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Schools

Years

Brands

1000+

Graduates

Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking Schools

Committed to the professional development of watchmakers and the next generation for our Customer Services.

Learn the art of Swiss watchmaking at our Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking Schools and open the doors to a professional career in Customer Service.

The essential purpose of our schools is to train professional watchmakers and future specialists in customer service for the Swiss watch industry. They prepare their students not only to master traditional watchmaking arts and crafts but also to be equipped to deal with the continuous development of new products, materials, tools and methodologies. We run our courses in partnership with the “Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Education Program” foundation (WOSTEP). WOSTEP certifies our students with the internationally recognized diploma after successful completion of the course.

Become

A...

Watchmaker

2 or 3 Year Program

The Watchmaker training follows the classic WOSTEP 3000 hour program and lasts 2 to 3 years, depending on the school calendar of the respective country concerned. It is a comprehensive training program in theory and practice to qualify as a versatile watchmaker. It includes extensive micromechanical skills and a thorough knowledge of mechanical and electronic watches. Knowhow of Customer Service management completes the program.

Syllabus:

Extended basics in micromechanics incl. manufacture of specific movement components
Advanced fundamentals of watchmaking incl. adjustments of the complete escapement and the regulating unit
Electronic watches
Automatic and calendar watches
Chronographs
Casing

Next Sessions

Glashütte (Germany)
August 2025

Pforzheim (Germany)
September 2025

Shanghai (China)
September 2025

Customer Service Watchmaker

1 Year Program

The Customer Service Watchmaker training is based on the WOSTEP 1800 hour program and lasts 1 year. The training includes a basic, job-oriented watchmaker education, then focuses on the specific requirements of Customer Service. The training covers all the basic skills needed for a watchmaker to perform a complete and high quality service on customers' watches.

Syllabus:

Basics in micromechanics
Fundamentals of watchmaking in after sales service
Electronic watches
Automatic and calendar watches
Chronographs
Casing

Next Sessions

Grenchen (Switzerland)
October 2025

Miami (USA)
September 2025

Shanghai (China)
October 2025 (T.B.C.)

The Schools

The schools bear the name of their founder, former Swatch Group Chairman Nicolas G. Hayek. They are strategically located on three continents and have a complementary partnership with the "British School of Watchmaking" in Manchester (UK). The first Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School opened in Shanghai in 1999. Since then, 1000 watchmakers have joined the global talent pool. This achievement is the result of Swatch Group’s substantial investments at different levels. The entire industry – in Switzerland and beyond – has benefited from the graduates’ skills.

Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School

Partner School

Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School

Partner School
Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School

Partner School
Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School

Partner School

Future Employers

After graduation, there are numerous opportunities in one of our prestigious companies.

Our students have the floor!

Former graduates of the Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking Schools share their experiences and how they found their way into our company after graduating.

Do you also want to become a watchmaker? Get in touch!

Carolin

Glashütte (GER)

My name is Carolin.
I am very proud of my apprenticeship as a watchmaker, which I completed from 2004 to 2007 at the Alfred Helwig Uhrmacherschule of Glashütte Original.
Right after I started to work for Swatch Group UK in Southampton as a Prestige Watchmaker. To improve my language and intercultural skills, I travelled to China on various training trips. Later in 2011 I returned to Germany to become Assistant Boutique Manager at the Tourbillon Boutique in Baden-Baden. In 2014 I got the chance to combine the watchmaking and customer service background by establishing the new Swatch Group Prestige Customer Service Center in Pforzheim as a Manager.

Carolin

Glashütte (GER)
Markus

Pforzheim (GER)

My name is Markus.
My interest in technology and my fascination with how mechanics work brought me to the Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School in Pforzheim. Then I first worked for Omega followed by a move to the Prestige division, where I overhauled Blancpain watches.
After working as a watchmaker for a few years, I felt the urge to develop further and completed a dual study program in industrial engineering. After completing my bachelor's degree, I came full circle and returned to the Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School. This time as an teacher, where I can pass on my fascination with watch technology to the new apprentices.

Markus

Pforzheim (GER)
Jason

Shanghai (CN)

My name is Jason.
After successfully graduating from the Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School in Shanghai in 2011, I worked as a watchmaker for the Swatch Group Service Center in Guangzhou for six months. During this time, I deepened and expanded my newly acquired knowledge of the watchmaking world. In direct contact with customers, I have learnt to adapt to different situations. Following that experience, I joined the Swatch Group in Shanghai, where I worked my way up from watchmaker to Technical Trainer. Since 2018, I have been living in Switzerland and working at Omega as a Technical Advisor.

Jason

Shanghai (CN)
Belinda

Glashütte (GER)

My name is Belinda.
I started my watchmaking career at the Alfred Helwig Uhrmacherschule of Glashütte Original. After my three-year apprenticeship concluded in 2004, I worked for Breguet and therefore relocated to Switzerland. In 2005 I broadened my professional horizons with another brand and at the same time, successfully completed my further training as a master watchmaker. In 2013, I joined Longines in Saint-Imier. I started as a Technical Advisor in the technical training department and since 2017, I’m responsible of this department. We train watchmakers from all over the world on our Longines products.

Belinda

Glashütte (GER)
Daniel

Miami (USA)

My name is Daniel.
I graduated in 2008 from the Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School in Miami and started with the Swatch Group as an Omega watchmaker. I moved to the Prestige department in 2011 and worked on Glashütte Original and Blancpain products. I had the opportunity to travel to Germany twice for training.
I am enthusiastic about Prestige watches and love to live out my passion.

Daniel

Miami (USA)
Tobias

Pforzheim (GER)

My name is Tobias.
I did my apprenticeship at the Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School in Pforzheim from 2008 to 2011. I completed the IHK training program as the best watchmaker in Germany. Afterwards I started as a watchmaker at Swatch Group and gained experience for two years. Since 2013, I have been working as a watchmaker and sales consultant at the Omega boutique in Frankfurt.
One of my varied jobs is to organise watchmaking courses for our customers. This allows us to give them the opportunity to explore a movement with a watchmaker's loupe, a screwdriver and a tweezer.

Tobias

Pforzheim (GER)
Vicky

Shanghai (CN)

My name is Vicky.
Since 2016 I have been living in Switzerland, more precisely in Biel. I work for Omega as a Technical Adviser. My passion is to train watchmakers on our movements and watches while sharing knowledge in a wide range of technical areas. I also implement new guidelines and policies from the brand in my home country, China. After starting at Shanghai University in 2007, I successfully completed the "Service Watchmaker" training at the Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School from 2009 to 2011. After that, I worked as a watchmaker for different brands at Swatch Group China until I moved to Switzerland.

Vicky

Shanghai (CN)
Robert

Shanghai (CN)

My name is Robert.
I started as a watchmaker. From 1999 to 2001, I attended and completed the first ever class at the new Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School in Shanghai. After that, I worked as a watchmaker in the workshop. In 2004, I taught as a teacher for the Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School. Since 2007 I have overseen the school and since 2008, I am also managing the whole training department within Swatch Group China.

Robert

Shanghai (CN)

Nicolas G. Hayek, founder

"I admire watchmakers. They are sculptors and artists who have to be able to balance the time-honoured traditions of watchmaking while mastering today’s cutting-edge technology. The uniqueness of their profession opens unknown horizons which embrace the planets and stars and dance with the mysterious universe."

Watchmaking is one of the finest professions in the world. Join us in our beat!