Watchmaking schools
If you are a horological institution and would like to be added to this section please contact us directly at thenakedwatchmaker@gmail.com.
Britain
British Horological Institute (BHI) - The following text has been provided by the BHI
The British Horological Institute is a 150 year old institution for education and training of clock and watchmakers. The Institute sets the highest standards for clock and watchmaker training in Britain and serves a global market, with a large international membership. The BHI sets examinations at levels 3, 4, and 5 in both watch and clockmaking.
The examinations lead to professional grade membership of the BHI. Starting with Technician grade and working up to Member and finally Fellow of the Institute. Members work in all aspects of horology, from fine watchmaking - antique or modern, through domestic clock repair to working on large public clocks.
The BHI is based just outside Newark in Nottinghamshire at Upton Hall, which for nearly fifty years has been our residential school, houses our extensive library which dates back to 1851, and is home to the Museum of Timekeeping - Britain’s national collection of clocks and watches.
The Institute is not just for professionals. Membership is open to all, and with membership comes access to courses. Some of the most popular are the initial “taster days” we do for clocks and watches. People get to come along for a day in our well-equipped classrooms and workshops and learn how a clock or watch really works. Our tutors are some of the best in the world and highly experienced.
Some may stop there. Others, bitten by the bug, often continue to take short courses and can start to progress to Technician Grade.
The full BHI Distance Learning Course provides the key to passing the Institute’s examinations. It is the most cost effective training. It is also the best possible training for people who want more than a career servicing watches. The course teaches how to make any part of a watch or clock, so perfect for either restorers or for designer-makers. Most people split after the first year, choosing either clocks or watches. Occasionally, students continue and qualify in both.
The BHI are getting ready to deliver apprenticeships in both clock and watchmaking. This employed route will cover the basics of clock or watch servicing and leads to the Technician Grade of BHI membership. It promised to become the most cost effective route into the trade.
Many of the finest watchmakers in Switzerland, and across the globe, are Fellows of the BHI.
Website www.bhi.co.uk
Membership Inquiries zanna@bhi.co.uk +41 (0) 1636 817603
Japan
The Tokyo Watchmaking School
The Hiko Mizunoi College of Jewellery. Originally a jewellery design school established in 1966, the watchmaking courses were launched in 1997. Today there are approximately 150 students in the process of studying watchmaking. There are 2 courses of 2- and 3-year durations. The longer course includes learning about chronographs, and the students are required to take and personalise a large caliber movement, (examples are shown below). In total there are 14 teachers in Tokyo. In addition, there is a second watchmaking school connected with the college based in Osaka with an additional 30 students and 3 teachers.
Switzerland
The K&H Watchmaking Competence Centre
Developed and run by its founder Swedish watchmaker Henrik Korpela, is a private and independent watchmaking school located in Le Locle.
It was established in 2010 to provide watchmaking courses that focus on both after-sales services, as well as encourage technical creativity, design and classical watchmaking fundamentals. In addition, micro-mechanics is included in the tuition process.
Berufsbildungszentrum - Centre de Formation Professionnelle Biel/Bienne (BBZ-CFP) .
Centre de Formation Neuchâtelois pour Adultes (CEFNA) - Le Locle, Suisse .
Centre de formation professionnelle Berne francophone (CEFF) .
Centre Interrégional de Formation des Montagnes neuchâteloises - École Technique Le Locle (CIFOM-ET) .
Centre Interrégional de Perfectionnement Tramelan (CIP) .
Centre Jurassien d’Enseignement et de Formation - Avenir Formation (CEJEF) .
Centre Jurassien d’Enseignement et de Formation - Division Technique Porrentruy (CEJEF/DIVTEC) .
Centre Neuchâtelois d'Intégration Professionnelle Couvet (CNIP) .
Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program - WOSTEP .
Centro d'arti e mestieri Bellinzona (CAM) .
ECAL University of Art and Design Lausanne .
Ecole d'horlogerie de Genève .
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) - Section de Science et Génie des Matériaux .
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) - Section Microtechnique .
École supérieure du canton de Neuchâtel - Domaine Technique (CIFOM - ET) .
École Technique de la Vallée de Joux Le Sentier (ETVJ) .
École Technique de la Vallée de Joux Le Sentier (ETVJ) .
Fondation pour la Formation des Adultes Genève (IFAGE) .
Haute École Arc-Conservation-restauration .
Haute École du Paysage, d'Ingénierie et d'Architecture de Genève (HEPIA) .
HEAD Geneva University of Art and Design .
Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF , ZeitZentrum Uhrmacherschule Grenchen.