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.
Watchmakers are the key people in the watch industry.
They perform the following tasks when assembling watches of all kinds:
- Dial and hand setting
- Casing
- Adjusting the watch
They carry out repair and service work on customers’ watches as follows:
- Analyses of malfunctions, mechanical wear and aesthetic flaws
- Repair work
- Final functional and aesthetic inspection of the movement and case
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
Customer Service Watchmakers provide comprehensive and high-quality service throughout our worldwide Customer Service Network.
They maintain and repair mechanical and electronic watches.
Their micromechanical skills guarantee successful results in the maintenance of cases and bracelets.
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
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.
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."
Nicolas G. Hayek (†2010)
Founder and former Chairman and Delegate of the Board of Directors
