Career Profile: Watch Repairer	Home	Español
		Informal perspective of what an occupation might be like.

What I Do: I own a watch repair business, the only one in my town. People bring every type of watch to my shop, from wristwatches to antique pocket watches. I begin by taking the watch apart and carefully checking each tiny part. If any piece is damaged or worn out, I repair or replace it using specialized tools. I clean and oil all the parts while they are disassembled, then put them back together. I test the watch to make sure it works and make any necessary adjustments. When I am satisfied that it keeps time perfectly, I call the customer with the good news and then move on to the next watch.

Best and Hardest Parts of My Job: I like owning my own business and being my own boss. Most of all, I like the satisfaction of taking something that is broken and making it work again, especially something as intricate as a watch. When customers thank me for repairing an heirloom watch, maybe one that belonged to their great-grandfather, I feel especially pleased. I have to admit, though, that my eyes are tired by the end of the day – looking closely at such tiny parts, even with magnifying lenses, can strain your eyes.

How I Got Started: I was always fascinated with how things work. When I was a kid, I would take something apart just to try to put it back together. (My parents weren’t too happy when I took apart the toaster and then couldn’t make it work again!) Later, a career counselor suggested that I could put my interest to good use by studying watch repair. I enrolled in a technical college where I learned how to repair and restore watches. Eventually I earned my certification through the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute, and now I have more business than I can handle!