Watch or clock repairer
Watch and clock repairers fix, service and restore customers' timepieces and those held in collections.
Typical Salary
£21,000 – £30,000
per year
Working Hours
42–44
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a watch or clock repairer, you'll:
- talk to customers and sales staff about repairs and give quotes
- take apart and inspect timepieces to identify faults
- clean and oil mechanisms
- make new parts to replace worn ones
- fit new watch straps and batteries
- etch or engrave designs onto a watch face
- maintain and repair tools and keep the workshop clean
Skills needed
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with your hands
- persistence and determination
- the ability to repair machines or systems
- the ability to use your initiative
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- analytical thinking skills
- problem-solving skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- specialist courses run by training organisations
Career progression
With experience, you could manage a workshop or retail jewellery outlet, or run your own business repairing or designing watches.
You could specialise in working for luxury clock and watch maker brands.
If you specialise in antique watches or clocks, you could work with museums, conserving and restoring their collections. You might also work for auctioneers as a valuer.