Watch School Curriculum

Courses are offered in Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4, and no experience is expected for enrollment in Level 1. Each level builds progressively on the skills and knowledge acquired in the previous Level. Within each level, classes are structured for progressive, enjoyable learning.

During the time a course is offered, a dedicated School Forum will be available for communication between students and instructor. Only registered students will have access to the classrooms, forum, and chat.

The Level 1 course requires the purchase of a tool kit of basic, but high-quality watchmaker's tools and supplies. A movement, for class work, is also included. The Level 2, 3 and 4 courses requires the addition of certain tools, and will also provide a list of optional tools that may be purchased through the TZ Tool Shop or elsewhere, at the student's discretion. A movement is also supplied for the Level 2 course and a watch timing machine is needed for Level 3.

 LEVEL 1 COURSE

  1. An Introduction to Watchmaking and Watch Repair.
    2.
    • The idea of craft and good workmanship.
    • The learning curve, having fun, and avoiding too much frustration.
    • The workplace and working environment.
    • The basic tools of the watchmaker: exploring your tool kit.
    • Dexterity exercises with the screwdriver and tweezers.
  2. Looking at Watches, Movements, and Beginning Disassembly.
    • What we check before any disassembly.
    • If we were de-casing the Fontainemelon.
    • How to hold a movement.
    • Examining the movement.
    • How we learn in disassembling a movement.
    • Releasing mainspring tension with the click and crown.
    • Hands, dial, dial-washer and hour wheel: the motion works.
    • Removing the motion works.
  3. Continuing Disassembly.
    • Storing removed parts.
    • Disassembly of the keyless works.
    • Considering the balance and cock.
    • Removing the balance and cock.
    • Considering the escapement.
    • Removing the pallet lever and pallet bridge.
  4. Continuing Disassembly.
    • Considering the wheel train.
    • The ratchet and ratchet click.
    • Disassembling the ratchet and click.
    • Removing the transmission wheel.
    • Removing the wheel train bridge and wheels.
  5. Finishing Disassembly.
    • Removing the barrel bridge
    • An examination of the barrel.
    • An examination of the mainplate.
  6. Beginning Reassembly.
    • Beginning Reassembly.
    • Reassembling the barrel bridge.
    • Reassembling the keyless works.
    • Reassembling the wheel-train bridge.
    • Aligning pivots.
  7. Continuing Reassembly.
    • Installing the pallet lever and bridge.
    • Installing the balance and cock.
  8. Final Assembly and Evaluation.
    • Assembling the motion works.
    • Checking function.
    • Evaluating workmanship and function.

 LEVEL 2 COURSE

  1. The Complex Watch.
    • Considering the principles of calendar mechanisms.
    • Understanding automatic winding systems.
  2. Disassembling the Automatic Winding System and Calendar Mechanisms.
    • Understanding winding function in detail.
    • Disassembling the automatic winding bridge.
    • Understanding calendar function in detail
    • Disassembling the calendar mechanism
  3. Complete disassembly.
    • Releasing the mainspring.
    • Disassembling the motion works.
    • Removing the balance and cock.
    • Removing the pallet lever and bridge.
    • Disassembling the wheel train.
    • Removing the barrel and bridge.
    • Disassembling the Keyless works.
  4. The Principles of Watch Lubrication.
    • Loads and speed.
    • From barrel to balance.
    • Viscosity.
    • Types and brands of watch oils.
    • Lubrication charts.
    • What to use where.
    • Applying oil.
    • Craft in lubricating.
  5. The Mainspring Barrel.
    • The automatic-winding mainspring.
    • The role of lubrication.
    • Disassembly.
    • Cleaning.
    • Lubrication and reassembly.
  6. Assembling and Lubricating Continued.
    • Barrel arbor and barrel pivots.
    • Transmission wheel and keyless works.
    • Assembly and lubrication of the calendar mechanism.
  7. Assembling and Lubricating Continued.
    • Varied lubricants for train wheels.
    • Escape wheel lubrication.
    • Installing the pallet lever and bridge.
    • Lubricating and assembling the automatic winding.
  8. The Balance and Balance Pivots.
    • Principles of balance lubrication.
    • Lubricating balance pivots.
    • Reinstalling the balance and cock.
    • Evaluation of workmanship and function.

 LEVEL 3 COURSE

Replacing a Balance Complete Equipped with The Etachron Regulator System. Timing the Etachron Regulator System using an Electric Timer.

  1. A bit of history before we start...
    • The Balance Wheel, Early Balances temperature compensation
    • The Hairspring: from Wild Boars to Elinvar & Nivarox Alloy Hairspring
  2. Get Prepared, What to Do Before Starting
    • Workspace and tools
    • Getting the watch ready
  3. The Etachron Regulator System
    • The Four Nations and the Development of the ETACHRON Regulator System
  4. Removal of the Balance Complete
    • Removal of the Automatic Device
    • Adjusting the Stud Location
    • Etachron Regulator Adjusting Tool and opening the Regulator Pins.
    • Separating the Balance from the Balance Cock
    • Inspecting the Balance Staff Pivots and Hairspring
  5. Installing the Balance Complete
    • Aligning the Roller Jewel with the Pallet Fork
    • Inserting of the Balance Staff Pivot into the Lower & Upper Balance Jewel
    • Inserting the Hairspring between Etachron Regulator Pins
    • Pushing the Hairspring Stud onto the Carrier
  6. Centering the Hairspring into the Etachron Regulator Pins
    • How to use the Etachron Regulator Adjuster Tool on the Nickel Plated Hairspring Stud Back
    • How to use it on the Brass Block of the Etachron Regulator Pins
    • A look at some of the regulator systems of the past
  7. The Timer and the Demagnetizer
    • Get the timer out, demagnetize before timing
    • Set if the machine for Amplitude (the MTG-500 does not have that capability)
  8. Getting the Movement in Beat and Regulating the Rate
    • Adjusting the Location of the Nickel Plated Regular Stud Block
    • Adjusting the location and opening of the Etachron Brass Plated Regulator Block and Pins
  9. Positional Rate Adjusting
    • Modern design features, temperature and isochronism adjustments
    • Adjustment for position practices
  10. Amplitude
    • Ways to improve Amplitude

 LEVEL 4 COURSE

  1. 7751 Intro (rev 25)
    • Introductory
    • The Movement
    • Parts List
  2. 7751 - Disassembly (rev17)
    • Disassembly
  3. 7751 - Assembly (rev21)
    • Assembly
  4. 7751 - Completion (rev19)
    • Completion of the Watch

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