A TESTIMONY FROM. A TESTIMONY FROM. A TESTIMONY FROM. A TESTIMONY FROM. A TESTIMONY FROM

VIRGINIE DERONT. VIRGINIE DERONT. VIRGINIE DERONT. VIRGINIE DERONT

28 May 2026

A Testimony From Virginie Deront

a testimony from

by FHH Academy

Get inspired by 'A TESTIMONY FROM,' a series from the FHH Academy that shares the genuine stories of certified individuals. Hear their highs, learn their valuable tips and tricks, and discover the impact of our certification on their careers and how you can benefit from it.

Candidate

FIRST, LAST NAME Virginie Deront
CURSUS Watch Specialist Class
CERTIFICATION Watch Specialist

Could you introduce yourself in a few words?

My name is Virginie Deront. I spent several years working in the watchmaking world, including at Rolex and Audemars Piguet. I was mostly on the communication, image and branding side. But something was missing: I had never had a truly technical approach to the product. At one point, I felt the need to go further - to consolidate my knowledge and gain confidence and legitimacy.

Which certification level did you take, and what motivated you to do so?

I chose to go straight to Level 2 of the Watch Specialist certification with the FHH Academy. It was a demanding choice, but a logical one for me. Level 1 Watch Advisor felt too introductory given my background and my years of experience. My aim was to acquire a more technical, more complete vision — one that would let me be credible when I speak about watchmaking, and give me solid arguments to support, advise and pass on knowledge.

Today, I feel much more grounded. I have the right words, I understand what lies behind a movement or a material, and I can share that passion with more precision.

Did you already have knowledge of watchmaking before this certification?

The preparation was fairly intense, even though it was remote. I followed 14 hours of training over video, in two seven-hour sessions with Stéphane Schüler. It was dense, very rich and very well structured. I took an enormous amount of notes — I ended up with 22 pages — because every detail counted. And then there was the FHH app, which is a real gem. It helped me a great deal to revise and test my knowledge. Before this certification, I obviously had some grounding from my professional experience. But the finer technical dimension was missing: materials, densities, complications… It wasn't a natural language for me.

Which parts of the certification surprised you?

What surprised me was the breadth and variety of the topics covered. You move from materials to complications, passing through the extremely precise vocabulary of watchmaking. It's a world unto itself — highly codified, but captivating. I realised that behind every watch there's an incredible sum of craftsmanship and engineering. Complications, for example, are genuine technological feats fitted into a case of 30 to 45 millimetres. Once you truly grasp that, you no longer look at a watch the same way.

What challenge did you face as a newcomer to watchmaking?

The biggest challenge was diving into that technical depth. The complications, the material densities, the specific jargon…

For someone coming more from the image side, it can feel intimidating. But in the end, that's also what motivated me: telling myself that if I could absorb all this, I would have crossed a real threshold in my understanding.

My aim was to acquire a more technical, more complete vision - one that would let me be credible when I speak about watchmaking, and give me solid arguments to support, advise and pass on knowledge.

What have been the personal and/or professional outcomes of this certification?

I would start with something very simple but very important: confidence. Today, I feel much more grounded. I have the right words, I understand what lies behind a movement or a material, and I can share that passion with more precision.

Professionally, it changes a great deal. It makes me credible with both clients and colleagues, and lets me connect three essential dimensions in watchmaking: emotion, technique and pedagogy.

Would you recommend this certification to others? Why?

Yes, without hesitation. Because it's a course that can open doors. It provides very concrete tools to talk about watchmaking, to make it accessible without betraying its complexity, and to spark interest. I think anyone in client-facing roles, or even in communication functions, would benefit from taking this certification. It lets you move from a general narrative to precise, captivating explanations.

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Will you take on another level of the FHH Certification?

For now, I mostly want to put into practice what I learnt at Level 2. That's already a big step. But in time, why not. If the opportunity arises and I feel the need to push further, I'll probably take on the next level, Watch Expert. But all in good time.

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