Through a combination of training in the workplace plus classroom studies, or through full-time study at a vocational college, the production watchmaker apprentice/student is introduced to micro-mechanics before acquiring skills in assembly, fine-adjusting the balance spring, casing the movement, and fitting the external parts.

Two-thirds of training takes place at the workbench. The remaining third involves classroom studies covering watchmaking theory, materials science, electronics applied to watchmaking, technical drawing and general education.

At École d'Horlogerie Genève, CIFOM-ET Le Locle and ETVJ Le Sentier, students can prepare for their federal vocational baccalaureate examination (maturité professionnelle) at the same time or, at EMT Porrentruy, after passing their federal VET* diploma (certificat fédéral de capacité).

Source: ETVJ Le Sentier; Convention patronale de l’Industrie horlogère suisse, Training Plan, December 11th 2014