close up of a watch made by watch engineer

Watch Engineer Jobs: What Is A Watch Engineer & What Do They Do?

Watch engineer jobs are few and far between, but it’s a role that is certainly growing in popularity. People in this profession inspect watch parts to find any faults, carry out repairs, and ensure watches are manufactured in line with safety regulations.

All in all, watch engineers help create some of the best-engineered watches out there. Read on to learn all about this up-and-coming career choice.

What Is A Watch Engineer & What Do They Do?

man holding black dial men's watch

Watch engineering is a relatively new field – historically, watchmakers have taken on the role of engineers, inspecting timepieces for faults and repairing different watch parts. However, there is now a growing field dedicated to purely the engineering side of watches.

Watch engineers are the problem solvers of the watchmaking world. They monitor every watch in great detail and ensure each one is fully functioning. They also assess how well each watch is doing its job. If they believe a watch could be improved, they come up with ideas of how to build a better timepiece.

They look at how to engineer watch straps, cases, dials, and mechanisms. There is not one part of a watch that watch engineers do not get involved with.

How To Become A Watch Engineer

UK university

As watch engineering is a relatively new industry, you are not likely to find a watch engineering degree. However, there are many general engineering degrees out there for you to choose from. You could study engineering and then go to watchmaking school to specialise in watches. When it comes to securing a job in the industry, this would give you a huge advantage over aspiring watchmakers who have never studied engineering.

Most universities in the UK offer engineering degrees, but if you’re on the lookout for the most prestigious courses, here are a couple of excellent Russell Group universities that are known for their engineering courses:

University Of Cambridge

To study engineering at the University of Cambridge, you need to get A*AA in your A Level results. You must take maths at A Level, and it’s also wise to take physics, chemistry, or biology too. This course compiles some of the most interesting aspects of engineering, from aerospace engineering to civil engineering. You get to study each one as its own module so that you get the full engineering experience. With this course, you even have the opportunity to work in the industry for six weeks.

University Of Warwick

Warwick offers a myriad of engineering degrees including electronic engineering and general engineering. If you are an aspiring watch engineer, we would suggest enrolling onto the general engineering course. This will give you a great grounding in engineering that could later be applied to the watch industry. According to the 2020 National Student Survey, the University of Warwick is the best university in the country for engineering. To get onto one of their courses, you usually need AAA at A Level.

Watch Engineer Job Profile

close up of watch with brown leather strap

So, what does it take to become a watch engineer? Let’s go into it.

What Soft Skills Do I Need To Become A Watch Engineer?

As a watch engineer, you will be required to come up with solutions to faults that you find in watches, so you need to be an excellent problem solver. You should also have great attention to detail so that you can quickly recognise faults in watches. Adaptability is a great skill to have as you will be working with a range of different watches so you will need to adapt your approach for dealing with each one. Finally, you should be extremely innovative – people will be relying on you to come up with ideas of how to make the next best watch in the industry.

What Is The Average Salary Of A Watch Engineer In The UK?

It has to be said that most watch engineer jobs are based in the US, so there are not many figures on the average salary of a watch engineer in the UK. However, we estimate that it is anywhere between £50,000 and £60,000 per year.

Our Final Thoughts On The Job Of A Watch Engineer

Fossil watch with autumn leaves in background

Watch engineering is not an easy job – it requires incredible attention to detail, excellent problem-solving skills, and a passion for innovation. However, if you adore watches, what better job to have?

If you want to see an example of some of the best-engineered watches in the industry, look no further than Uniform Wares. Our Swiss-made timepieces exude innovation with their minimalist aesthetic and high-quality materials. Treat yourself to one of our men’s or women’s watches today. You deserve it!

Browse our watches for sale and prepare to fall in love.

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