Watchmaker
A watchmaker is an inventor , designer or builder of watches , especially mechanical watch movements and their accessories. The job also includes the maintenance and care of watches of all kinds (compare the difference between watchmaker and clockmaker in English). A watchmaker's objects also include the display of other values derived from time (see complications ) or completely different values (using other measuring instruments , for example barometers ).
history
The first watchmakers were locksmiths and blacksmiths who (with the grinders ) belonged to a common guild, which also included winch makers and, from the 16th century, gunsmiths . Even after watchmakers' guilds had emerged in Germany in the middle of the 16th century, locksmiths had the right to build clocks. The first watchmakers' associations can be found in Dresden in 1540 , still united with the guild of small smiths and without compulsion to master the masterpiece, in Paris in 1544 and in London in 1631 with the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers . Watchmaking was first an art , later a craft . The clockmakers, who in the 18th century were divided into large clockmakers (with three years of apprenticeship and three years of traveling as a journeyman) and small watchmakers (with four years of apprenticeship and at least four years - "Muthjahren" - wandering) were the pioneers of precision mechanics .
In some regions, such as the Black Forest or certain areas of Switzerland , the manufacture of clocks at home or in factories , which enabled correspondingly large quantities , began as early as the end of the 18th century . But other regions also developed their own watchmaking tradition, which can still be recognized today by the various types of historical watches. With the beginning of the industrial production of clocks in the 19th century, the job description changed in such a way that the manufacture of new clocks completely took a back seat to trade, maintenance and repair. Especially after the Second World War, with the advent of cheap, industrially manufactured quartz watches , the profession experienced a significant decline. Today it is largely limited to the repair and maintenance of high-quality luxury watches and the restoration of antique pieces, although appropriate specialists are in great demand.
Today's profession watchmaker
job profile
The watchmaker deals with the manufacture, assembly, dismantling, repair and restoration of clockworks and accessories, especially the watch case , i.e. with construction drawings, mechanical, electrical and electronic components of large and small clockworks in series and individual production as well as troubleshooting, maintenance and care , Testing and adjustment of modern and historical clocks as well as with the basics and with applied time measurement technology . In addition, the manufacture and maintenance of the highly specialized equipment form part of his activity.
The professional field includes
- Tradespeople and specialist salespeople or specialist advisors in the jewelry industry and in technical customer service .
- In the watch industry , the watchmaker, as a professional, is the specialist who instructs and supervises other workers. He carries out complicated work and is responsible for quality assurance .
- In the service sector, watchmakers are responsible for the care, maintenance and preservation of watches - this type of occupation is also called rhabilleur . The spectrum ranges from battery changes and revisions to complex restorations of historical large and small watches ( watch restorer) .
- The fittings specialist is a watchmaker in the spare parts trade (watch fittings trade) .
- Galvanists, polishers, cadranographers, micro-draftsmen and micro-mechanics are further training courses in the watchmaking sector.
The job description of the watchmaker still fundamentally differentiates between industry and craft, whereby the transitions are fluid among the small, independent watch manufacturers (e.g. in the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants ).
- Industry: Manufacture of clocks and other precision mechanical measuring devices.
- Craft: maintenance and repair of all types of clocks and other timing devices.
- Merchandise management: the management of equipment and spare parts.
Watchmakers work independently on the basis of technical documents and work orders. They obtain information, plan and coordinate their work and coordinate it with others, in particular with customers, business owners and colleagues. They also take quality assurance measures, document their performance and take measures for occupational safety , health and environmental protection at work. Because of their extensive training in micromechanics , watchmakers are also skilled workers in aircraft construction , prototyping and measurement and control technology .
The employment figures for watchmakers in jobs subject to social security contributions in Germany fell significantly from 1999 with 4,391 employees to 2011 with 2949 employees.
Vocational training
The training to become a watchmaker takes three years in Germany and ends with a journeyman's certificate . In Austria, apprentices are trained as time measurement technicians for three and a half years and at the end take the final apprenticeship examination.
In Switzerland, depending on the subject, you are trained for three to four years and then - after successfully completing the final apprenticeship examination - you receive a federal certificate of proficiency . In all three countries, training can now be done in two ways:
- as dual training in a craft or industrial company with accompanying vocational school
- as a full-time school education in a watchmaking school
The remuneration during the training
The trainees receive a monthly training allowance from the company, the amount of which is determined in a collective agreement and which varies from state to state. For the apprenticeship "watchmaker" it was on average in 2011:
Industry and trade, old federal states
- 1st year of training: € 818
- 2nd year of training: € 866
- 3rd year of training: € 942
New federal states recommendation IHK (industrial metal sector) from September 1, 2011
- 1st year of training: € 743
- 2nd year of training: € 764
- 3rd year of training: € 827
Advanced training
Master watchmaker
After completing the training, further training to become a master is possible. The watchmaker is by its triple qualification a specialist in his field, a trainer and an entrepreneur.
Restoration of old clocks
In Germany, a further training opportunity for the watchmaking profession was created from 2007. Trained master watchmakers can qualify as a recognized restorer in the watchmaking trade with a final examination. A new qualification was created so that customers - be they private clients, collectors or public institutions such as museums - can be sure that their art-historically valuable instruments will be in the hands of experts.
The modern craftsman is confronted with historical objects that require a different approach to what is taught in conventional craft training. A broad knowledge of historical craft techniques that have long been practiced no longer is required, as is knowledge of the materials used in earlier times. In addition, extensive research in specialist literature or archives and museums may be necessary to determine the presumed appearance of missing parts. The exact written and pictorial documentation of the work carried out is also often required for a professional restoration.
In line with the long tradition of watchmaking, specialization in restoration is possible in Switzerland as early as basic training. The training to become a watchmaker can be completed in the so-called Rhabillage field . Special courses are offered for further training.
In Austria, further training in restoration is offered as course training for watchmaking guilds and schools.
Watchmaking schools
In Germany, the first watchmaking school was founded in Furtwangen in the Black Forest in 1850 , in Switzerland in 1868 the watchmaking school in Le Locle , in Austria in 1873 in Karlstein an der Thaya .
Historical schools
- German Watchmaking School Glashütte (DUS), Germany (1878–1956)
- Le Locle watchmaking school: since 1868, today part of the Ecole technique neuchatelois , the Château des Monts building has housed the Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle since 1959
Vocational and professional schools
-
Germany
- Bavarian master school for watchmaking
- State vocational school for Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia at the Franz Oberthür School in Würzburg
- Vocational School Hamburg
- Vocational school center ”Otto Lilienthal” Freital-Dippoldiswalde, Glashütte branch
- Goldsmith School with Watchmaking School Pforzheim
- The Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School Pforzheim
- Hessian watchmaking school (HUS), master craftsman and advanced training school for watchmaking
- Furtwangen watchmaking school at the Robert-Gerwig-School in Furtwangen (since 1850)
- Watchmaking school with master’s school at the state fine technology school in Villingen-Schwenningen
- Max Born Vocational College
-
Austria
- Federal vocational school for watchmakers Karlstein / Thaya (since 1873), also looks after the Austrian watch museum Karlstein
-
Switzerland
- CFP-BBZ Biel-Bienne
- CEJEF- Division technique, Ecole d'horlogerie de Porrentruy
- CFPT- Ecole d'horlogerie de Genève
- Ecole technique neuchatelois (ET) of the Center interrégional de formation des Montagnes neuchâteloises (CIFOM)
- ETVJ - Ecole technique de la Vallée de Joux
- WOSTEP International School of Watchmaking
- ZeitZentrum Uhrmacherschule Grenchen
-
Further
- Ringsted Watchmaking School, Denmark
- Technical school Schoonhoven, Netherlands
Associations
-
Germany
- Central association for watches, jewelry and timekeeping technology
- Association of the German Watch Industry (WPG)
- German Society for Chronometry (DGC)
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Historical German-language watchmaker magazines
- General Journal of Watchmaking. Leipzig / Halle (1876), from 1915 watchmaking (until 1943)
- German watchmaker newspaper. Berlin (1877 to 1944)
- Schweizerische Uhrmacher-Zeitung / Journal Suisse des Horlogers. Bern (from 1879), later Swiss watchmaker and goldsmith newspaper
- Austro-Hungarian watchmaker newspaper. Vienna (1882 to around 1918)
- Süddeutsche Uhrmacher-Zeitung. Augsburg (1889 to 1941, 52 volumes)
- Leipziger Uhrmacher-Zeitung. Leipzig (1893), from 1927 Die Uhrmacher-Woche , 1949 combined with the Deutsche Uhrmacher-Zeitschrift
- The watchmaker. Vienna (1928 to 1938 and 1948 to 1956), later goldsmith and watchmaker newspaper
- New watchmaker newspaper. Ulm (1947 to 1972), later jewelry and watches
- The clock. Bielefeld (1947 to 1972), later watches, jewelery, jewelry
- Watches and jewelry. (East) Berlin (1964 to 1990)
Well-known watchmakers
In addition to extremely skilled watchmakers, this list also includes some physicists and engineers who have dealt extensively with watchmaking.
- One of the most famous German watchmakers was Peter Henlein (around 1479 / 80–1542) from Nuremberg . He was probably the first in Germany to develop and manufacture small watches that could be worn on the body.
- His colleague, the Nuremberg clockmaker and precision mechanic Hans Gruber (around 1530–1597) is not quite as well known . He made pocket watches with a diameter of just 2 cm and was also a master of the Nuremberg locksmith guild.
- The first clock that measures the seconds was created in 1584 by the Swiss Jost Bürgi (1552–1632) who was in the service of Wilhelm IV of Hessen-Kassel for astronomical measurements using an intermediate winding mechanism (Rémontoir d'égalité) and a cross-flap escapement.
- On Christiaan Huygens go (1629-1695), the first real pendulum clock with verge escapement back (1656) and the theory of spring and pendulum ( Horologium oscillatorium. Paris, 1673). He also constructed planetariums and worked on the astronomical principles of the calculation of time .
- Daniel Jean-Richard founded the Swiss watch industry in 1681.
- Thomas Tompion (1639–1713, London) developed the cylinder escapement in 1695 .
- George Graham (1673–1751) is one of the most important English watchmakers. The Graham inhibition (the Graham Gang , 1715) goes back to him .
- Matthew Stogden patented the repeater hammer mechanism in 1728 .
- Pierre Le Roy 1724 develops the first escapement of the chronometer .
- Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732–1799) invented the double-point escapement , which made it possible to build significantly smaller and more accurate clocks.
- John Harrison (1693–1776) solves the problem of length - he is considered the father of modern chronometry, although his recognition (H5, 1761) was denied for a long time during his lifetime.
- Abraham Louis Breguet (1747–1823) invented the tourbillon in Switzerland around 1800 and introduced the bent spiral curve ( Breguet spiral ) , in 1810 he built the first wristwatch, as well as several other inventions (Parachute shock protection, Echappement naturel, Pendule sympathique) go back to him.
- Urban Jürgensen 1807: First pocket chronometer
- Carl August von Steinheil (1801–1870) in Munich developed an electrical slave clock system (1829)
- Adrien Philippe (1815–1894) invents the ironing elevator ( Remontoir elevator , 1842).
- Claudius Saunier founded the first watchmaking journal in 1855.
- John Harwood developed the automatic watch (1923, patent 1924, Harwood perpetual with automatic winding, Basel Messe 1926).
- The physicists Adolf Scheibe (1895–1958) and Udo Adelsberger (1904–1992) built the first functional quartz watch in 1934 (after the invention by Warren Alvin Marrison in 1929) .
- Reinhard Straumann (1892–1967), Swiss engineer, developed the first timing machine and the chronocomparator in 1926 , as well as the Nivarox alloy for the self-compensating spiral spring (1932) and the break-proof mainspring (1952).
- George Daniels (1926–2011), British watchmaker and author, invented the co-axial escapement in the 1970s, which has been built into Omega watches since 1999 .
See also
- German watchmaker newspaper
- Category: watchmakers , other famous watchmakers
- Astronomical clock , priest mechanic
literature
- Johann Heinrich Moritz von Poppe: Joh. Heinr. Moritz Poppe's practical handbook for watchmakers, watch dealers and watch owners; Or: complete lexicon and explanation of the terms and artificial words that occur in the manufacture, repair, and use of all kinds of clockworks, along with the tools and other equipment associated with them . New edition. Sommer, Leipzig 1810. Digitized version (published in 2 volumes)
- Charles Octavius Swinnerton Morgan : Observations on the History and Progress of the Art of Watchmaking, from the earliest Period to modern Times (In a Letter from Octavius Morgan, Esq., MP, FSA, to Sir Henry Ellis, KH, Secretary). In: Archaeologia: or Miscellaneous tracts relating to Antiquitiy. Volume 33, 1849, pp. 84-100.
- Le Livre d'Or de l'Horlogerie. Geneva / Neuchâtel 1927.
- Hermann Sievert: Guide to the watchmaker's apprenticeship. 13th edition. Berlin 1931.
- R. Lavest: Basic knowledge of watchmaking. 2nd Edition. Biel 1945.
- A. Chapuis (Ed.): L'Horlogerie. Une Tradition Helvétique. Neuchâtel 1948.
- Enrico Morpurgo : Dizionario degli orologiai italiani. 1300-1880. Rome 1950; extends Milan 1974.
- GA Berner: Dictionnaire Professionel illustré de l'Horlogerie. La Chaux-de-Fonds 1961.
- Luigi Pippa: masterpieces of watchmaking. Milan 1966.
- Jürgen Abeler : Master of watchmaking. Over 14,000 watchmakers from the German-speaking area with life or impact data and a list of their works. Wuppertal 1977.
- Carl Schulte: Lexicon of watchmaking. Handbook for all tradespeople and artists in the watch industry. 2nd revised, greatly increased edition. Hübner, Bautzen 1902 (photomechanical reprint: Callwey-Verlag, Munich 1980, ISBN 3-7667-0432-X ).
- Eva Groiss: The Augsburg watchmaking trade. In: The world as a clock. German clocks and automata 1550–1650. Edited by Klaus Maurice and Otto Mayr. Exhibition catalogs Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich 1980, pp. 63–89.
- GH Baillie: Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World. Volume 1. New edition, London 1982.
- Elena Introna, Gabriele Ribolini: I Grandi dell 'Orologio. Zeta Edizioni, Monza (Italy) 1992.
- Gerhard Dohrn-van Rossum , Marcus Popplow: clock, clockmaker. In: Encyclopedia of Modern Times. Volume 13: Subsistence farming - vassal. Stuttgart 2011, Col. 887-896.
TV documentary
- The last of his class? The clock builder ; by Benedikt Kuby , Bayerisches Fernsehen 2000.
Web links
Germany:
- Literature by and about watchmakers in the catalog of the German National Library
- watch-wiki.de Free watch lexicon with a list of watchmakers and an explanation of watchmaker's tools
- uhrmacherverzeichnis.de
- Profession , TrustedWatch, the international watch portal, watch magazine and watches Forum - Full description
Austria:
- Training information Austria from the Institute for Educational Research in Business: BerufsInformationsComputer (BIC)
- Professional and industry information for watchmakers / time technicians from the Austrian Chamber of Commerce
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hans-Peter Trenschel: The Würzburg guild of locksmiths, rifle, watch and winch makers . In: Ulrich Wagner (Hrsg.): History of the city of Würzburg. 4 volumes; Volume 2: From the Peasants' War in 1525 to the transition to the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1814. Theiss, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-8062-1477-8 , pp. 448–453, here: pp. 448–450.
- ^ Klaus Maurice: From clocks and automata . Prestel, Munich 1968.
- ↑ Hans-Peter Trenschel: The Würzburg guild of locksmiths, rifle, watch and winch makers . 2004, p. 450 f.
- ↑ Watchmaker in the profession of the Federal Employment Agency
- ↑ Professions and training in the watchmaking sector. In: CPIH. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
- ↑ Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BiBB) - watchmaker - training profile ( Memento from October 16, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ ulmato-bewerbung.de with reference to the IAB research group on professional labor markets
- ^ Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BiBB) - watchmaker
- ↑ Ordinance: "Watchmaker" (PDF; 78 kB)
- ↑ Federal Ministry of Economics, Family and Youth - Ordinance "Uhrmacher / in" ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Training information from the Swiss Service Center for Vocational Training, Vocational, Study and Career Advice SDBB.
- ↑ https://www.azubiyo.de/berufe/uhrmacher/
- ↑ http://www.smwa.sachsen.de/set/431/20120718-Metall-und-Elektroindustrie.pdf ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Hessian watchmaking school - master watchmaker
- ↑ a b Bavarian master school for the watchmaking trade
- ↑ Ordinance: "Master watchmaker" ( BGBl. 2005 I p. 3122 )
- ↑ Page no longer available , search in web archives: Master Examination Regulations Switzerland
- ↑ Restorer - watchmaker's trade in the profession of the Federal Employment Agency
- ↑ Hessian watchmaking school - restorer in the watchmaking trade
- ↑ Restorer in the watchmaking trade
- ↑ Information on the Rhabillage department of the Swiss Service Center for Vocational Training, Vocational, Study and Career Advice SDBB.
- ↑ Further education information Austria of the Institute for Educational Research of the Economy
- ↑ The museum. Musée d'horlogerie du Locle, accessed February 12, 2017 .
- ^ Franz Oberthür School in Würzburg
- ^ Vocational school for watchmakers in Hamburg
- ↑ BSZ Freital-Dippoldiswalde, Glashütte branch
- ↑ Goldsmith School with Watchmaking School Pforzheim ( Memento from December 1, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School
- ↑ Hessian Watchmaking School (HUS)
- ↑ Robert-Gerwig-Schule Furtwangen ( Memento of the original from April 11, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ State fine engineering school Villingen-Schwenningen
- ↑ Max Born Vocational College
- ^ Federal College for Watchmakers in Karlstein an der Thaya
- ↑ Clock Museum Karlstein an der Thaya
- ↑ CFP-BBZ Biel-Bienne ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Ecole d'horlogerie de Porrentruy
- ↑ CFPT- Ecole d'horlogerie de Genève
- ↑ Ecole technique neuchatelois ( Memento of July 2, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ ETVJ - Ecole technique de la Vallée de Joux
- ↑ WOSTEP International School of Watchmaking
- ↑ Leisure Center Uhrmacherschule Grenchen
- ^ Technical school Schoonhoven, Netherlands
- ↑ Association of the German Watch Industry (WPG)
- ^ Austrian federal guild of gold and silversmiths, jewelers and watchmakers
- ^ Association of German-Swiss watch manufacturers
- ^ Association of Swiss goldsmiths and watch shops
- ^ Convention patronale de l'industrie horlogère suisse
- ^ Fédération Horlogère Suisse
- ^ Helmut Kahlert , Richard Mühe , Gisbert L. Brunner , Christian Pfeiffer-Belli: wrist watches: 100 years of development history. Callwey, Munich 1983; 5th edition, ibid. 1996, ISBN 3-7667-1241-1 , p. 510.
- ^ M. Loeske: Deutscher Uhrmacher-Kalender 1923 S. 82-87, Uhrmacher Jahrbuch 1956, S. 78f, quoted from Volker Vyskocil: What when happened. In: www.uhrentechnik.de. Retrieved June 8, 2008 .
- ^ Fritz Staudacher: Jost Bürgi, Kepler and the Kaiser . 4th edition. NZZ Libro, Zurich 2018, ISBN 978-3-03810-345-5 , p. 127-130 .
- ↑ Fritz von Osterhausen: Callweys lexicon . Callwey, Munich 1999, ISBN 978-3-7667-1353-7 , p. 187.
- ^ History. Haarwood Watch Co. Switzerland, accessed June 8, 2008 .