Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland - 2014 by Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

Inventory of

watchmaking training in Switzerland

2014 October 2014

Swiss watchmaking schools FOREWORD Prior to visiting the six watchmaking schools, the Wostep school in Neuchâtel, and the École d’Arts Appliqués in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie drew up a complete inventory of training in the watchmaking professions in Switzerland today. We would like to thank the directors of these different establishments who welcomed us into their school. They provided invaluable assistance when gathering information and understanding the different courses, including partnerships between schools and the private sector. Note that a number of study programmes are in the process of revision.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Learning to be a watchmaker - a brief history How did instruction in watchmaking originate in Switzerland, and why did certain regions become centres for this transfer of expertise? As a general rule, this type of teaching tends to develop close to production sites which, in the case of watchmaking, were Geneva, around the Jura and Neuchâtel mountains, and Schaffhausen. In Geneva, the guild of watchmakers (Corporation des Horlogers), established in 1601, set out the rules of the profession, including the rules that governed apprenticeships and the quality of instruction given to apprentices. A master watchmaker was allowed to take only one apprentice at a time. Over a period of five years, he would teach the different skills of the profession, and pass on the knowledge and methods he had himself acquired. As early as the seventeenth century, ties were formed between watchmakers in Geneva and their counterparts in Pays de Vaud, who would welcome apprentices from Geneva into their workshops in Le Brassus or Le Sentier to complete their training there. In the Neuchâtel mountains, apprenticeship contracts had to be registered with a notary, and examples exist of contracts dating back to the early 1700s. The first Swiss school of watchmaking opened in Geneva in 1824, followed by others in La Chaux-de-Fonds (1865), Saint-Imier (1866), Le Locle (1868), Neuchâtel (1871), Biel (1872), Fleurier (1875) and Le Sentier in Vallée-de-Joux (1901). Watchmaking developed in Porrentruy and Solothurn in a very different context. In the 1840s, measures were taken in Porrentruy to boost the local economy through the introduction of watchmaking firms. At the same time, a school of watchmaking was opened to instruct poor children and orphans in the watchmaking professions. The town of Solothurn was similarly deprived of a watchmaking industry and, in response, laid the foundations for a school that would provide instruction to persons in greatest need. These developments should be seen in the wider context of a country steeped in poverty, which in the mid-nineteenth century drove many Swiss citizens to emigrate to the United States. Schaffhausen was briefly home to a school of watchmaking, from 1856 to 1860. It was here, on the banks of the River Rhine, that the American engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones settled in 1868, and founded International Watch Co. To help bring his project to fruition, he enjoyed the financial backing and guidance of the watchmaker Heinrich Moser (1805-1874), a native of Schaffhausen and the son and grandson of watchmakers. Since 1968, Manufacture IWC has had its own school of watchmaking which maintains a regular intake of some twenty apprentices.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Competition from the United States The cohabitation between American and Swiss watchmaking wasn’t always as smooth as in the case of IWC and its arrival in Schaffhausen. Indeed, during the second half of the nineteenth century, competition was rife between the two countries’ watchmakers. Certain Swiss entrepreneurs had embraced the latest innovations in production, such as Urs Schild who in the 1860s installed automatic lathes at his Fabrique d’Ebauches. Despite this, American firms began to distance their Swiss counterparts in both production and training. For example: École d’Arts Appliqués, La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland’s first school of applied arts was opened in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1873, shortly after the town’s school of watchmaking had begun to teach drawing. It came about through an initiative among employers who wished to train their workers in engraving, enamel painting and gem-setting. The objective was also to improve the quality of work proposed by companies in La Chaux-de-Fonds which, like elsewhere in Switzerland, were hard-hit by competition from American watchmakers who were decorating their pocket watches with great care and imagination. École d’Horlogerie, Saint-Imier It’s a well-known story: in 1876, the Swiss engineer Jacques David, then technical manager for Longines in Saint-Imier, travelled to Philadelphia in the United States to visit the World’s Fair. Here he observed how companies had developed mechanised production of standardised watch parts, resulting in cheaper, reliable American-made timepieces. Well aware of the implications this could have for the Swiss watch industry, David set about developing a programme to modernise vocational teaching in Switzerland. Watch cases produced at École d’Art in La Chaux-de-Fonds, 1906.

The following is an extract from a letter addressed by the Commission of the Saint-Imier watchmaking school to the Canton’s Home Affairs Office, dated January 5th 1878: “Over the past two years, the majority of young men who have come to us have applied themselves to each of the school’s classes and thus prepared themselves to become accomplished workers and future foremen capable of preserving our watchmaking tradition and bringing about the transformations which American competition imposes.” (SOURCE : ÉCOLE D’HORLOGERIE DE SAINT-IMIER BY PIERRE-YVES DONZÉ IN DIX ECOLES D’HORLOGERIE SUISSE,

EDITIONS SIMONIN)

As a member of the school Commission, Jacques David was able to push through his reforms. New tools were acquired as of 1879, including two lathes. The school was also the beneficiary of a donation from Longines “to be used specifically to perfect the range of tools.” (SOURCE: COLL. MÉMOIRES D’ICI, MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING, OCTOBER 2ND 1879). Further donations from Longines were used to purchase more new machines so that the school could adapt its teaching to the production methods that were now current in watchmaking factories. The school also taught pupils about American methods, the then reference in mechanised production. In 1887 the Commission made a request to the Société Intercantonale des Industries du Jura that it donate its collection of American-made movements to the watchmaking schools. Three years later, the school purchased new American-made movements to use as part of apprentices’ instruction. A new parts-making class, introduced in 1896, proved highly popular. Between 1896 and 1920, 32% of apprentices chose this specialisation. In the wake of this success, another new class opened in 1912 for régleuses or balance-spring fitters.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

FOUR AMERICAN WATCH BRANDS, ESTABLISHED IN THE LATE 1800s, WITH TIES TO SWISS WATCHMAKING

The American Waltham Watch Company was founded in 1850 in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to manufacture movement parts with sufficient precision to make them perfectly interchangeable. By 1859 the company had become the biggest supplier of railroad chronometers. It was a pioneer in automated production and was awarded a Gold Medal in the first international watch precision competition. Indeed, the advances made by American watchmakers were a cause for concern in Switzerland, as confirmed in the report drafted by Jacques David, technical manager for Longines. Waltham ceased trading in the United States in 1957, having first set up a subsidiary in Switzerland: Waltham International SA. During its one-hundred-year existence in the United States, the brand produced some 40 million quality watches, clocks and speedometers. Each movement is inscribed with a serial number, which can be consulted using the Waltham Memorial search engine. Bulova Watch Company was established in 1875 in New York City by Joseph Bulova. It opened its first factory mass-producing standardised watch parts in Biel, Switzerland, in 1912. It now belongs to Citizen Watch Co (Japan). A. Wittnauer Company was founded in 1890 in New York City by Eugene Robert, an importer of Swiss watches and brother-in-law to Albert Wittnauer. The company’s watches earned a reputation for reliability among the US Navy, which used them in early aviation tests, as well as explorers and astronomers. In 1918 it invented the first “AllProof ” watch. It is now part of Bulova. Hamilton Watch Company was founded in December 1892 in Pennsylvania. The majority of Hamilton watches made in the 1920s were equipped with a mainspring that provided a 42-hour power reserve. In 1931 the brand patented the Elinvar (a contraction of “élasticité invariable”) balance spring, later used for all American-made movements. The Hamilton name was transferred to Biel, where the company worked with Büren Watch Co. Since 1985 it has been part of Swatch Group as Hamilton International SA.

SOURCE : WIKIPÉDIA

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Parts-making, a new branch of training As part of their efforts to modernise training, Swiss watchmaking schools gradually introduced parts-making classes to their curricula: - In 1880, the new director of the École d’Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds purchased machinetools for the school’s workshops. In 1886, under Paul Berner, a parts-making class opened. A year later the school was renamed École d’Horlogerie et de Mécanique. - In 1881, the École d’Horlogerie in Biel set up a small parts-making workshop for students who, early on in their apprenticeship, learned how to file parts and work a lathe. A few years later it opened a full-fledged class. This required a complete reorganisation of the school and led to the creation, in 1890, of the Technicum. - In May 1877, a conference of directors of Swiss watchmaking schools recommended that the École d’Horlogerie in Geneva set up a parts-making class whose teaching corresponded to working conditions in the watch industry. As well as training parts-makers, this new class served as an introduction for future watchmakers. - In 1892, the École d’Horlogerie in Fleurier was restructured and, in 1896, a new parts-making class was opened. This would develop into the École de Mécanique. - In 1904, the École d’Horlogerie in Porrentruy purchased automatic lathes to train watchmakers in parts-making.

La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaking school, Blanks workshop circa 1900 © Collections du Musée international d’horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Wostep (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program) In the 1960s, in response to a request made by the American government, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) and Ébauche SA (ETA) developed a training programme for American and Canadian watchmakers. These two bodies based the programme on the apprenticeship model in place since the early seventeenth century in Geneva, Vaud and Neuchâtel. In the 1950s there had been some forty watchmaking schools in the United States. Some twenty years later this number had fallen to just twelve, reflecting the slow decline of the American watch industry that began in the 1960s - when the country lost its status as the world’s biggest producer of watches - and ultimately led to a complete shutting-down of production. Twelve American and Canadian students took the first one-year course in 1965. A year later, the Wostep school opened in Neuchâtel with André Farine as director.

Increases in watch production haven’t necessarily engendered a corresponding increase in training, something we can still observe today. At certain times, training has even been seen to decline as production has expanded. In the nineteenth century, for example, watchmaking was a thriving industry in Le Locle, attracting a massive influx of workers, yet apprenticeships failed to keep pace with demand.

Students in the watchmaker-repairer class at the Le Locle Technicum, circa 1951

BIBLIOGRAPHY: - DIX ÉCOLES D’HORLOGERIE SUISSES – CHEFS-D’ŒUVRE DE SAVOIR-FAIRE, EDITIONS SIMONIN; - RÉFLEXIONS SUR LE CONTENU DES APPRENTISSAGES DE L’HORLOGERIE AU 18e SIÈCLE PAR ESTELLE FALLET, INSTITUT L’HOMME ET LE TEMPS, LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS ; - HEINRICH MOSER (1805–1874): INTERNATIONALER UHRENFABRIKANT – VISIONÄRER INDUSTRIEPIONIER BY ROGER NICHOLAS BALSIGER, VEREIN FÜR WIRTSCHAFTSHISTORISCHE STUDIEN BAND 85, ZÜRICH, 2007 PHOTO CREDIT: - MUSÉE INTERNATIONAL D’HORLOGERIE, LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS - MUSÉE D’HORLOGERIE DU LOCLE, CHÂTEAU DES MONTS

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Training today The legal framework for vocational training in Switzerland Since the 1930s, vocational training has been regulated at federal level. The loi fédérale sur la formation professionnelle voted on December 13th 2002 came into force on January 1st 2004. It pertains to: - - - - - - -

initial vocational training, including the maturité professionnelle fédérale (high school diploma) advanced vocational training continuing education in a vocational field qualification procedures, certificates and diplomas awarded training of persons in charge of vocational training competencies and principles in vocational, educational and careers orientation the Swiss Confederation’s contribution to the cost of vocational training

The other main regulatory text is the ordonnance sur la formation professionnelle voted on November 19th 2003, and which also came into force on January 1st 2004. Initial training in watchmaking is in the process of being restructured. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), directors of watchmaking schools and the Convention Patronale de l’Industrie Horlogère Suisse are all contributing to this process. The new decree is expected to be published in 2015.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

The vocational training system There are three levels of vocational training in Switzerland. These are initial (secondary) training, training for adults including continuing education, and advanced (tertiary) training in colleges, universities of applied science, institutes of technology and universities. 1 Initial vocational training provides the theory and expertise required to practice a given profession. A two-year course leads to a federal vocational education and training certificate (AFP). A three or four-year course leads to a federal vocational education and training diploma (CFC). A federal VET diploma can be completed by a maturité professionnelle technique or a maturité professionnelle artistique, a general curriculum which qualifies students to move on to tertiarylevel education. 2 Advanced vocational training qualifies individuals to practice complex professions with a high level of responsibility. Holders of a federal VET diploma with several years’ on-the-job experience can obtain formal attestation of their skills by sitting the federal professional education and training diploma (brevet fédéral) in their area of specialisation. Advanced training allows holders of a federal VET diploma to train in a specialist field and, if they wish, earn a management qualification. Holders of a federal VET diploma and a maturité professionnelle can enrol at a university of applied sciences in their given specialisation. Holders of a maturité gymnasiale can study for a Bachelor’s degree at a university of applied science after one year’s work experience, or apply directly for a course at a federal institute of technology. 3 Adult training is aimed at three categories of persons: adults who are already employed in the watch sector and wish to develop their skills, adult job-seekers, and adults working in another sector who wish to retrain and work in the watch sector. Watchmaking schools function as vocational schools (école professionnelle) and trade schools (école de métiers) for initial training: 1 CEJEF - Technical Division - Porrentruy (JU) École Professionnelle Technique and École des Métiers Techniques 2 BBZ - CFP - Biel (BE) École Professionnelle and Lycée Technique 3 CFPT - Ecole d’horlogerie de Genève (GE) 4 École technique CIFOM-ET - Le Locle (NE) École Professionnelle Technique and Lycée d’Enseignement Professionnel 5 École technique de la Vallée de Joux (ETVJ) - Le Sentier (VD) 6 Zeitzentrum Uhrmacherschule - Grenchen (SO) 7 École d’arts appliqués CIFOM-EAA - La Chaux-de-Fonds (NE) Full-time course in watch engraving and vocational school for engraving apprentices.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

The following schools train microtechnicians at advanced level: 1 CFPT - Ecole d’horlogerie de Genève 2 École Supérieure du canton de Neuchâtel, Domaine Technique - CIFOM-ET - Le Locle 3 École Supérieure de la Vallée de Joux - Le Sentier 4 École Supérieure du canton de Neuchâtel, Domaine des Arts – CIFOM-EAA - La Chaux-de-Fonds Course in watch design leading to an advanced diploma in product design. The École Supérieure Technique (CEJEF) - Technical Division in Porrentruy (JU) runs courses with applications in the watch industry. They are a two-year course in Automisation Maintenance, and two workplace training courses, both lasting three and a half years: one in Production Technology and one in Industrial Project Management.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Initial vocational training: apprenticeship Workplace training (apprenticeships) Training shared between the workplace and the classroom – known as “dual training” or apprenticeship in Switzerland – is still a widespread form of initial training in watchmaking and the métiers d’art. In 2013, workplace training accounted for 40.5% of total training in the branch. As its name implies, it is shared between the workplace, for hands-on learning, and a vocational school for theory and general education. In the following texts, the word “company” covers watchmaking firms, watch retailers and independent workshops. Hands-on training in the company is under the supervision of an experienced professional. The apprentice familiarises himself or herself with the tools and, by observing and repeating, learns the skills and rules of the trade. Both IWC in Schaffhausen and Vacheron Constantin in Geneva have their own apprenticeship workshops. Currently IWC is training 20 apprentices, 3 of whom are training as watchmakers and 17 as watchmakers in industry. Vacheron Constantin is training 19 apprentice watchmakers and 9 apprentice watch fitters. Other manufactures in Geneva, including Patek Philippe, Roger Dubuis and Rolex, also train apprentice watchmakers. Chopard trains watchmakers for industry. By way of comparison, A. Lange & Söhne in Glashütte (Germany) is currently training 46 apprentice watchmakers.

The apprenticeship workshop at IWC © IWC Schaffhausen

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

The apprenticeship contract In Switzerland, any apprentice in workplace training for a federal VET certificate or diploma must have an apprenticeship contract (Swiss Code des Obligations, art. 344-346a). For a contract to be legally binding, it must be in written form and approved by the relevant authorities for the Canton. (HTTP ://WWW.CA.FORMATIONPROF.CH). A federal VET certificate (AFP) is awarded after two years and exams in theory and practice. A federal VET diploma (CFC) is awarded after three or four years and exams in theory and practice. In 2013, 41% of the total 385 AFP and CFC qualifications were awarded to apprentices who had completed workplace training. Also in 2013, 40.5% of the 437 new apprenticeship contracts were for workplace training (SOURCES : CONVENTION PATRONALE AND OFFICE FÉDÉRAL DE LA STATISTIQUE).

The following professions can be learned through workplace training: SUBJECT

N° OF YEARS

Mechanical operator AFP

2 years

Production mechanic CFC

3 years

Micro-mechanic CFC – production of parts on CNC machines

4 years

Micro-mechanic CFC – prototype production

4 years

Micro-mechanic CFC – stamping and moulding

4 years

Micro-mechanic CFC – precision-turning

4 years

Components drafter CFC

4 years

Watch fitter AFP

2 years

Watchmaker CFC

3 years

Watchmaker in industry CFC

4 years

Watchmaker-repairer CFC

4 years

Polisher AFP

2 years

Surface finisher CFC

3 years

Surface treatment technician AFP

2 years

Electroplater CFC

3 years

Jeweller CFC

4 years

Engraver CFC

4 years

AFP = FEDERAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING CERTIFICATE CFC = FEDERAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING DIPLOMA

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Study programme for watchmakers at a vocational school Theory study for watch fitters at CIFOM-ET (two years):

SUBJECT

Watchmaking theory

Materials and tools

Mathematics

Technical drawing

General education

240

Total

650

N째 OF HOURS

160

Theory study for watchmakers at CIFOM-ET (three years):

SUBJECT

Specialised knowledge (watchmaking theory, etc.)

Work methodology

3 Mathematics

N째 OF HOURS

360 20 120

Physics

Materials and equipment

Electronics for watchmaking

120

Technical drawing

160

8 IT

English

120

General education

360

Sport

160

Total

1640

and at ETVJ (also three years):

SUBJECT

Watchmaking theory

240

Fundamental notions of work techniques

180

Physics

Materials and equipment

Electronics for watchmaking

100

Technical drawing

120

English

120

Individual tutoring

120

General education

360

Gymnastics and sport

240

Total

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

N째 OF HOURS

1640

Theory study for watchmakers in industry and watchmaker-repairers, 1st to 4th years:

SUBJECT

Watchmaking theory (specialised knowledge)

Work methodology

N째 OF HOURS

240 20 120

3 Mathematics 4 IT

Physics

Materials

Electronics for watchmaking

100

Technical drawing

160

English

160

Business structure

After-sales service and management

Watch laboratory work

Related specialised knowledge a - Industry: Production techniques, quality assurance, micro-electronics b - Restoration and repairs: Clocks and historical elements, complications, quality control

140

Individual tutoring

180

General education

480

Sport

320

Total

2200

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Training for watchmakers in industry Workplace training is obligatory for watchmakers wishing to work in industry. In addition to manufacturing and assembling parts, a watchmaker in industry must be familiar with production methods, how they can be optimised, and quality control. He or she can also be asked to carry out analyses in the watch lab, and helps develop new products. In 2013, 24 federal VET diplomas were awarded to young watchmakers in industry, compared to 30 the previous year (Source: Convention Patronale, January 2013/February 2014). Apprenticeships in this branch are run by companies in Geneva (Manufacture Chopard), the Neuchâtel mountains, Biel, and German-speaking Switzerland (Manufacture IWC). In the Ajoie district, there are no apprenticeships in this branch. In Vallée-de-Joux there is currently only one apprentice watchmaker for industry. Four of the six watchmaking schools offer theoretical teaching to apprentice watchmakers training to work in industry. In the 2013/2014 academic year, 21 new apprentices began studies: - The École Technique in Le Locle and Lycée Technique in Biel have seven first-year apprentices -

The Zeitzentrum in Grenchen has the following apprentices: 11 in 1st year 8 in 2nd year 9 in 3rd year 8 in 4th year

The Ecole d’Horlogerie in Geneva has the following students: 3 in 1st year 5 in 2nd year 2 in 3rd year 4 in 4th year

For the 2013/2014 academic year, the intake of apprentices at the Zeitzentrum in Grenchen corresponded to a standard class of 11. In Le Locle, Biel and Geneva, the number of openings for apprentices in this branch is more limited. According to the Union des Fabricants d’Horlogerie de Genève, Vaud et Valais (UFGVV), training does not deliver the skills that are actually required of a watchmaker in industry. Consequently, companies in Geneva and Vaud do not take on apprentices in this branch, instead preferring to hire watchmakers and train them in-house.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Inter-company courses The federal decree on vocational training requires apprentices to complete their training with inter-company courses. A study programme is put in place for each year of training. For example, first-year apprentice watchmakers are given an initiation in micro-mechanics, where they learn to handle the tools used to manufacture watch parts. Since 2008, inter-company courses have come under the responsibility of trade bodies within the Cantons. These professional bodies - Union des Fabricants d’horlogerie de Genève, Vaud et Valais (UFGVV) and Association Patronale de l’Horlogerie et de la Microtechnique (APHM) in Biel - organise courses and their funding, which comes mainly from subsidies awarded by the Swiss Confederation and the Cantons. For organisational reasons, certain Cantons have chosen to decentralise inter-company training. In the Canton of Solothurn, the Zeitzentrum in Grenchen takes charge of these courses for all German-speaking Switzerland, as well as theoretical study for watchmaking sections. In French-speaking Switzerland, the only apprentice watchmaker for industry, who studies in Vallée-de-Joux, takes inter-company courses in Geneva. Apprentice polishers and surface finishers in the Cantons of Berne, Geneva and Neuchâtel take inter-company courses at the Centre de Formation Continue in Bassecourt (Jura). As for apprentice jewellers in the Canton of Neuchâtel, they attend inter-company courses at the École d’Arts Appliqués in Geneva.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Initial vocational training: the technical college Technical colleges Full-time training for micro-mechanics, component drafters, watchmakers and watchmaker-repairers is given at Technical colleges (école de métiers). Jewellers and engravers attend courses at a school of applied arts. Alongside practical training, these students attend the same theory and general education classes as apprentices in workplace training. The Lycée Technique in Biel runs a full-time course for watch fitters studying for a federal VET certificate.

A watch fitter assembles the different components in electronic and mechanical watch movements, and generally learns his or her trade through workplace training. Last year, the École Technique in Vallée-de-Joux started a pilot class. A full-time course recently launched at the Lycée Technique in Biel.

In 2013, 36 federal VET certificates were awarded to young watch fitters (Source: Convention Patronale, February 2014). The full-time, two-year course at the Lycée Technique in Biel is intended to appeal to young people who are manually adept, and help make up the shortfall of apprenticeship places for watch fitters in Biel. This has proved a highly successful initiative: 115 people applied for the 12 places on the course for the 2013/2014 academic year. Because the authorities for the Canton of Berne have obliged the Lycée to cut its teaching budget by around 20% for the second consecutive year, the school is unable to increase its student intake.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Training for watchmakers and watchmaker-repairers A watchmaker assembles electronic and mechanical watches, performs quality controls at various stages in production, and makes any necessary adjustments. A watchmaker-repairer assembles and adjusts complicated watches. He or she also services and repairs mechanical watches, electronic watches, vintage and contemporary clocks. Training can be either in the workplace with additional classroom study, or as full-time study at one of the six watchmaking schools. Training in both specialisations has a common core, compliant with current regulatory texts (ordonnance sur la formation professionnelle). The Geneva watchmaking school is already adapting its curriculum to the new decree that will come into force in 2015, and proposes two separate courses. The newly-enrolled student chooses either a three-year programme to become a watchmaker or a four-year programme for a watchmaker-repairer. A young watchmaker who has completed the three-year course is only admitted to the final-year class of watchmaker-repairers after passing an exam.

The majority of student watchmaker-repairers at the Zeitzentrum in Grenchen are enrolled in full-time study at the school, with only a minority in workplace training. The same applies to student watchmakers. At the École Professionnelle Technique in Le Locle (ET-CIFOM), École Technique in Le Sentier (ETVJ) and École des Métiers Techniques in Porrentruy, the two courses run parallel. All students follow a threeyear course to become a watchmaker. After passing their federal VET diploma, the best students can then join the final year class of watchmaker-repairers.

Since 2006 in the Canton of Vaud, persons with a maturité gymnasiale (high school diploma) can benefit from an intensive watchmaking course that enables them to move more quickly to an advanced level programme. This two-year course covers the same theory and practice as the official study programme, without the general education classes and certain scientific subjects. Vaud is the only Canton to facilitate access to advanced training in this way. Watchmaker-repairer studies at the Lycée Technique in Biel are organised along similar lines to the other schools. First-year students have classes in the micro-mechanics workshop, where they are introduced to using tools and manufacturing components. Second- and third-year students learn benchwork and take part in analyses in the watch lab. Students can, exceptionally, end their training after three years and leave with a federal VET diploma as a watchmaker. Students who continue for a fourth year discover complications and large timepieces (clocks). They also learn to repair timepieces supplied by “friends” of the school. Some schools, such as the one in Geneva, encourage students to work as a team. For the first three years, however, each student works individually on his or her school watch. The École des Métiers Techniques in Porrentruy takes a different approach: fourth-year students spend much of their study time in the watch lab, although work on complications and clocks are also part of the curriculum. Fourth-year theory concentrates on complications, clocks and quality control, and on activities that are specific to the industrial sector (production techniques, quality assurance, micro-electronics).

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

In 2013, 154 federal VET diplomas were awarded to watchmakers: 76 to apprentices completing workplace training and 78 to students completing full-time study at a watchmaking school. Also in 2013, 74 federal VET diplomas were awarded to watchmaker-repairers: 10 to apprentices completing workplace training and 64 to students completing full-time study at a watchmaking school. SOURCE : CONVENTION PATRONALE DE L’INDUSTRIE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE, FEBRUARY 2014

The 2013-2014 academic year Certain professions in the watchmaking sector attract large numbers of young men and women, not all of whom will be offered a place in a school. The figures below, which concern full-time classroom study, show the huge gap between the number of candidates and actual capacity: - Lycée Technique in Biel has 196 students in full-time training. It received 115 applications for the 12 places on its watch fitter course, and 78 applications for the 12 places on its watchmaker-repairer course. - École des Métiers Techniques in Porrentruy has 120 students of which 80 student watchmakers. It received 50 applications including 27 for its watchmaker course. - Ecole d’Horlogerie in Geneva has 132 full-time student watchmakers and 48 full-time micro-mechanic students. It received 180 applications in total for the 36 places on its watchmaker/watchmaker-repairer course and 12 places on its micro-mechanic course. - École Technique in Le Locle delivers full-time training for production mechanics, micro-mechanics, component drafters, watchmakers and watchmaker-repairers. It received just under 100 applications for a maximum intake of 24 new students across these four courses. - École Technique in Vallée-de-Joux has 166 students in full-time training. It received just under 200 first-year applications for a total of 54 places: 12 for micro-mechanics, 32 for watchmakers (of which 26 for the three-year course and 6 for the intensive, two-year course), 4 for component drafters and 6 for jewellers.

Number of federal VET diplomas and certificates awarded between 1984 and 2013 for polishers, surface finishers, component drafters, micro-mechanics, watchmakers, watchmakers in industry and watchmaker-repairers: 1984 1994 2004 2013

– – – –

137 diplomas and certificates 108 diplomas and certificates 194 diplomas and certificates 349 diplomas and certificates

SOURCE : CONVENTION PATRONALE DE L’INDUSTRIE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE, FEBRUARY 2014

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

School watches Four of the Swiss watchmaking schools offer students the possibility to work on a school watch and present a finished piece which must be entirely their own work. The École Technique in Vallée-de-Joux has its own school watch, which dates back to 1915. Students at the Ecole d’Horlogerie in Geneva work on an L.U.C. EHG pocket watch calibre which the school developed in collaboration with Manufacture Chopard. The Zeitzentrum also has its own school watch. At the École Technique in Le Locle, two teachers are developing a small pendule d’officier (a type of carriage clock) which will ultimately become a new school watch. However, the situation appears to be that students can only make limited modifications to the movements donated by companies in the region, as the study programme does not allow sufficient time for them to produce a complete watch. The Wostep school has also developed its watch which is used by Wostep students around the world.

School projects Several schools are setting up projects in partnership with private companies. They give fourth-year watchmaker-repairer students a chance to work on the restoration of antique clocks, or to produce their own pieces.

Maturité professionnelle technique This certificate gives apprentices and students who already hold a federal VET diploma a higher level of training and general education which will qualify them for the various courses offered by universities of applied sciences. There are two options, or “systems”, open to students wishing to take their maturité professionnelle technique (MPT): 1 The integrated system allows students to obtain their MPT at the same time as their federal VET diploma over three years. This adds an additional half-day of theory classes per week which, depending on the school, come to a total of two or two and a half days per week. If, at the end of the three-year course, the apprentice or student fails the MPT exam, he or she can sit it again the following year, provided they have passed their federal VET diploma. The integrated system is offered at the Lycée Technique in Biel, Ecole d’Horlogerie in Geneva, École Technique in Le Locle, École Technique in Vallée-de-Joux and the Zeitzentrum in Grenchen. - At the Lycée Technique in Biel, applicants whose grades at the end of compulsory education qualify them to study at a Gymnase (roughly Key Stage 5 in the UK / high school in the US) can go straight into the integrated system without having to sit an entrance exam. - At the Ecole d’Horlogerie in Geneva, students applying for the watchmaker-repairer course must have completed their final year of upper secondary school. Applicants whose parents are Genevese or pay taxes in the Canton take priority. - At the École Technique in Le Locle, students applying for the watchmaker course must have completed their final year of compulsory education. Students applying for the four-year components drafter course (integrated system) must meet the same standards at the end of the first semester as for secondary-school Year 11.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

- At the École Technique in Vallée-de-Joux, students whose grades at the end of compulsory education qualify them for post-compulsory education in the Canton of Vaud are admitted without sitting an entrance exam. - At the Zeitzentrum in Grenchen, student watchmaker-repairers with good school grades can prepare their maturité professionnelle. All schools require students to sit a theory exam, an aptitude test and to have an individual interview. 2 Under the additional system students first obtain their federal VET diploma, then prepare for their MPT through either one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. - At the Technical Division in Porrentruy, this option is available to watchmakers, component drafters and micro-mechanics to encourage students to follow advanced vocational training while guaranteeing all-round practical training. Exceptionally, and provided they have obtained an average grade of 4.8 or more, students at the École des Métiers Techniques can complete their federal VET diploma studies in three years and use the fourth year to study full-time for their MPT. - The Lycée Technique in Biel proposes the additional system as an alternative to the integrated system for students who have achieved good or excellent grades at the Lycée Technique and are strong in maths, English and French. Other students can take lessons to prepare for the entrance exam.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Métiers d’art As the situation stands, in Switzerland only the crafts of jeweller, gem-setter, metalsmith and engraver are taught at a school of applied arts or through workplace training, with students preparing for their federal vocational education and training diploma (certificat fédéral de capacité CFC). For the other métiers d’art, such as enamelling, engine-turning (guillochage) or paillonnage, there are no courses at schools of applied arts and therefore no official diplomas. These crafts are learned alongside independent artisans. Watch manufactures which have their own workshops, such as for enamelling, train their own craftsmen and women, many of whom already have an art school diploma.

For engravers, the École d’Arts Appliqués in La Chaux-de-Fonds (CIFOM-EAA) is the only school to run a watch engraving course, thereby maintaining a more than centennial tradition. By way of comparison, courses taught at the École d’Arts Appliqués in Zurich or École Boulle in Paris focus on medal engraving, decorative engraving and the manufacture of stamping and hallmarking tools.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Advanced vocational training (professional education and training) Qualifications giving access to advanced vocational training 1 A person who has a federal VET diploma and several years’ on-the-job experience can obtain formal attestation of their skills by sitting the federal professional education and training diploma (brevet fédéral) in their area of specialisation. This will qualify them for jobs with a higher level of responsibility. 2 Courses at higher vocational colleges (écoles supérieures) are open to holders of a federal VET diploma or an equivalent qualification. In watchmaking, they lead to a federal technician’s diploma. These tertiary-level courses can immediately follow on from initial vocational training or be taken after several years’ on-the-job experience. 3 Universities of applied sciences (hautes écoles spécialisées) propose Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes. They are open to holders of a federal VET diploma plus a vocational school-leaving certificate or baccalaureate (maturité professionnelle) as well as to holders of a school-leaving certificate or baccalaureate (maturité gymnasiale) who have one year’s experience in their chosen specialisation. Universities of applied sciences engage in applied research and development. Holders of a Bachelor’s degree who are employed in the watchmaking industry can prepare for a Masters of Advanced Studies. 4 École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is acknowledged as a centre of excellence in research and study in hard science, engineering and architecture. Holders of a federally-recognised school-leaving certificate or baccalaureate (maturité gymnasiale) or a Swiss Bachelor’s degree from a university of applied sciences enrol directly in the first year of their chosen Bachelor’s programme. Holders of a Swiss vocational school-leaving certificate or baccalaureate (maturité professionnelle) who are at least 25 years old should first apply for the CMS preparatory course.

Federal diploma of master watchmaker Preparatory studies for the federal diploma (brevet fédéral) of master watchmaker are only proposed in German-speaking Switzerland, by the Association Suisse des Magasins Spécialisés en Horlogerie et Bijouterie/Verband Schweizer Goldschmiede und Uhrenfachgeschäfte ASHB/VSGU.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Higher vocational colleges Students wishing to prepare an advanced qualification in watchmaking must enrol at a higher vocational college, all in French-speaking Switzerland. They offer an advanced-level diploma as a microtechnician with various specialisations, either as a two-year full-time course or as workplace training lasting three or three and a half years. 1 Ecole d’horlogerie de Genève offers specialisations in the following areas: - micro-mechanical design - watch design - watch lab

Entrance requirements - Applicants must hold a federal VET diploma in one of the following areas: - polymechanic - industrial draftsman/woman - automatician, - micromechanic - components drafter - watchmaker - electronics engineer Applicants must have achieved an average grade of 4.8 in theory subjects during their last year of studies for the federal VET diploma. If these criteria are not met, or the number of applicants exceeds the number of places, students will be required to sit an entrance exam.

2 École Supérieure du canton de Neuchâtel, Domaine Technique CIFOM-ET, Le Locle offers the following specialisations: - restoration and complications - watch design - mechanical design - industrial processes

Entrance requirements - Holders of a federal VET diploma in their chosen course subject can apply to study for an advanced technician’s diploma and will be selected based on their application. Anyone holding a federal VET diploma in an area other than their chosen course subject will be required to sit an entrance exam. École Supérieure du canton de Neuchâtel, Domaine Technique in Le Locle runs the only advancedlevel course for a microtechnician specialising in restoration/complications. The course is open to persons with a federal VET diploma as a watchmaker-repairer. Students learn traditional techniques to repair and restore valuable antique timepieces. Lessons in art and design history complete this two-year full-time course. A new Pôle Horloger In March 2013, a new centre for research and development in watchmaking opened on the CIFOM Technical School campus in Le Locle. A joint initiative of the Laboratory of Microengineering for Manufacturing at EPFL, Haute École Arc (HE-Arc), the CIFOM Technical School and three watchmaking companies, its objective is to build on synergies between the academic world and industry.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

3 École Supérieure de la Vallée de Joux offers the following specialisations: - micro-mechanical design - watch design - watch lab

Entrance requirements - Students wishing to enrol at the school must meet one of the following conditions: - hold a federal VET diploma in the branch corresponding to their chosen option; - hold a federal VET diploma in another branch or another higher secondary-level qualification. In this instance, students will be required to take an aptitude test and must have at least one year’s experience in the corresponding profession. The school board of directors can make an exception for a student whose initial training is considered to be of an equivalent level.

4 École Supérieure du canton de Neuchâtel, Domaine des Arts, La Chaux-de-Fonds has, for the past four years, run a course which prepares students for an advanced qualification in product design.

Entrance requirements - Applicants must hold a federal VET diploma in one of the following areas: jewellery-making, engraving, watchmaking or micro-mechanics, and must also sit an aptitude test.

Universities of applied sciences Three such universities, known as hautes écoles spécialisées in Switzerland, run courses with applications in the watchmaking industry at Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral level. They are: - Haute École Arc Neuchâtel - Haute École du Paysage, de l’Ingénierie et d’Architecture de Genève (HEPIA) - École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) The three universities in brief: - Thanks to the proximity of industry, Haute École Arc is ideally placed to develop close contacts and win the support of business and the economy. - HEPIA provides a high standard of instruction over three years that equips alumni to practice their chosen profession in the best conditions. - One of the foremost schools in Europe and the world, EPFL is widely acclaimed for the excellence of its research and teaching. Switzerland is known the world over for its production of watches. It is also internationally renowned for the quality of its training and for the teaching given in its schools and universities. One could say that the two go hand-in-hand. These are the solid foundations, at the forefront of progress, on which the Swiss watch industry has written some of the finest pages in the history of time measurement. It is also thanks to this passing down of expertise that it will continue to do so for a very long time to come.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Haute École Arc Neuchâtel History - In October 2000, the Cantons of Berne, Jura and Neuchâtel declared their intention to group universities of applied sciences in their respective cantons into a single entity. Haute École Arc (Neuchâtel, Berne, Jura) opened in 2005 in Neuchâtel. It offers two courses in areas with applications in watchmaking: - Engineering - Conservation-restoration

1 Haute École Arc Ingénierie University of Neuchâtel was first to train watch engineers, in the 1940s. Some twenty years later, a degree in microengineering was introduced. In 2009, Haute École Arc Neuchâtel revised its engineering studies, which have been validated by the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OFFT) until 2016. Courses are as follows: Bachelor level Haute École Arc Ingénierie runs two Bachelor’s degree courses in watch engineering. The Industrial Design Engineering course leads to degrees in: - Engineering and Design - Mechanical Systems Design - - -

The Microtechnology course leads to degrees in: Watch Engineering Industrial Engineering Microtechnology and Electronics Engineering

Entrance requirements - Studies at Haute École Arc Ingénierie are open to holders of a federal VET diploma and a maturité professionnelle technique, or a federal VET diploma and a technician’s diploma from a higher vocational college, or a maturité gymnasiale plus one year’s on-the-job experience in their chosen field.

Post-graduate studies There are two post-graduate courses: - Master of Advanced Studies in Watch Design - Diploma of Advanced Studies in Watchmaking

Master of Advanced Studies in Watch Design This modular course includes workplace training and is proposed by HE-Arc Ingénierie in Neuchâtel and HEPIA in Geneva. Students graduate with a Master of Advanced Studies in Watch Design. The full course runs over five semesters, with a choice of two options in the fourth semester: - movements - finished products

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Diploma of Advanced Studies in Watchmaking This three-semester course leads to a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Watchmaking plus a certificate for any additional modules which the student has passed.

Entrance requirements - The Diploma of Advanced Studies in Watchmaking requires a microtechnician’s diploma from a higher vocational college, subject to the number of available places. However, these students do not qualify to enrol for the Advanced Theory module.

2 Haute École Arc Conservation-Restauration Established in 2005 and part of the Haute École Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale (HES-SO), the Haute École Arc Conservation-Restauration in Neuchâtel trains students at Bachelor’s and Master’s level with a specialisation in “scientific, technical and horological instruments”. Courses lead to the following degrees: - Bachelor of Arts in Conservation - Master of Arts in Conservation-Restoration Bachelor level Bachelor of Arts in Conservation (HES-SO) Since 2005, the Swiss Conservation-Restoration Campus (Swiss CRC) has coordinated the Bachelor of Arts in Conservation. During the first two years, students learn basic conservation techniques. The third year corresponds to a pre-specialisation in one of the areas practiced by the Swiss CRC partner-schools.

Entrance requirements - Students are selected by a panel based on their application, an aptitude test, and an interview. They must hold a maturité professionnelle or maturité gymnasiale (high school diploma) and have in-the-field experience (public or private conservation-restoration laboratories, museums, archaeological digs).

Master of Arts in Conservation-Restoration (HES-SO) Holders of a Master of Arts in Conservation-Restoration can work at public, public-private or private institutions: conservation-restoration and research laboratories, local government archaeological departments, universities, museums and foundations.

Entrance requirements - Students who wish to apply for the course must hold a Bachelor of Arts in Conservation (HES-SO) or equivalent diploma, or a Conservation-Restoration diploma from a university of applied sciences with a specialisation in archaeological and ethnographic objects/ scientific, technical and horological instruments and must have graduated between 2000 and 2010. Students are then selected by a panel.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Haute École du Paysage, d’Ingénierie et d’Architecture de Genève (HEPIA) Part of the Haute École Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale (HES-SO), HEPIA in Geneva offers a Bachelor’s degree course in microengineering within its Engineering and Industrial Technologies Department. Bachelor level HEPIA proposes three microengineering courses at Bachelor level with the following specialisations: - Materials and watchmaking - Electronic equipment design - Applied physics Courses last three years and lead to a Bachelor of Science in Microengineering.

Entrance requirements - HEPIA is open to students with a federal VET diploma and a maturité professionnelle technique or a microtechnician’s diploma from a higher vocational college.

Post-graduate studies The Master’s in Watch Design is taught in collaboration with the Haute École Arc Ingénierie in Neuchâtel. This modular course includes workplace training and is proposed by HE-Arc Ingénierie in Neuchâtel and HEPIA in Geneva. Students graduate with a Master of Advanced Studies in Watch Design. The full course runs over five semesters, with a choice of two options in the fourth semester: - movements - finished products

Entrance requirements - The Master of Advanced Studies in Watch Design is open to students who already hold a Bachelor of Science or equivalent diploma, are already employed in the watch industry, and who wish to develop advanced skills in movement and watch exterior design. Diploma of Advanced Studies in Watchmaking This three-semester course leads to a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Watchmaking plus a certificate for any additional modules which the student has passed.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) EPFL is an engineering and technical university that is active in both teaching and research. The university welcomes more than 10,000 students in its five Schools. The School of Engineering offers two courses which can lead to a career in the watch industry: - Microengineering - Materials science and engineering Bachelor and Master level Students in Microengineering can study for a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree. Students in Materials science and engineering can study for a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree.

Entrance requirements - École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne is open to students with a maturité gymnasiale suisse or a Bachelor’s degree from a university of applied sciences. Candidates with a maturité professionnelle who are at least 25 years old should first apply for the CMS preparatory course.

Inventory of watchmaking training in Switzerland | October 2014

Acknowledgements We extend our sincere thanks to: Mi-Ja Dedo Moynat, Manufacture Vacheron Constantin, Genève Sévérine Favre, Convention patronale de l’Industrie horlogère suisse, La Chaux-de-Fonds Anny Sandmeier, Union des Fabricants d’horlogerie de Genève, Vaud et Valais Pierre Amstutz, Ecole d’horlogerie de Genève Jérémy Annen, IFAGE, Genève Pierre Biedermann et Romain Moyse, Manufacture Cartier, La Chaux-de-Fonds Daniel Dietz, Lycée technique de Bienne Olivier Duvanel, Gianni Fiorucci et Nicolas Jeanson, Haute École Arc Ingénierie Neuchâtel Fabien Graber, École Technique de la Vallée de Joux, Le Sentier Paul-André Hartmann et Sylvain Varone, École Technique ET-CIFOM, Le Locle Marc Pfister et Julien Le Bolloc’h, École d’arts appliqués La Chaux-de-Fonds Maarten Pieters, Wostep, Neuchâtel David Seyffer, Manufacture IWC Schaffhausen Jean Theurillat, Centre Jurassien d’Enseignement et de Formation - Division technique, Porrentruy Daniel Wegmüller, ZeitZentrum Uhrmacherschule, Grenchen We particularly wish to thank for their help and encouragement Mr Christian Piguet and Mr Michel Lehmann.

PHOTO CREDITS: MUSÉE D’HORLOGERIE DU LOCLE, CHÂTEAU DES MONTS MUSÉE INTERNATIONAL D’HORLOGERIE, LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS MANUFACTURE IWC, IWC MEDIA CENTER, SCHAFFHAUSEN ECOLE D’HORLOGERIE, GENÈVE CIFOM - ÉCOLE TECHNIQUE LE LOCLE ANDRÉ HERZOG, ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE