JON THE WATCH | studio 161

jonthewatch.co.uk
jon@jonthewatch.co.uk
ig: jonthewatch
07476 913 284

The watchmaking taster days are tailor-made experiences so you can dip your toes into the micro-mechanical world of horology.

They are an ideal gift to give to someone interested in watches and all things horological.

The day will begin with understanding how a mechanical watch works by way of videos and PowerPoint presentations projected on to a 100-inch screen.

There will be two presentations over the day; one for disassembling the watch movement and the other to aid in assembling the watch. By the end of the day, you will have a better practical and theoretical understanding of how a watch works and how it goes together. There is also plenty of time to ask questions.

You will be working on a ST36 watch movement which is a copy of the ETA 6497 Swiss pocket watch, developed in the 1940s and widely used in modern-day wristwatches. This is a very big watch movement, which helps when using tweezers, fine screwdrivers, and a loupe, which magnifies the work, especially for those using these tools for the first time. There are also high-powered stereo microscopes on each workbench to help with seeing the micro-mechanical world of watchmaking.

Jon the Watch will expertly guide you through the disassembly and then assembly of this watch movement, explaining how each part of the watch works and how they all interact with each other.

The taster days are ideal for anyone who has never opened up a watch before and is suited for complete beginners, as well as those that want to push their horological skills and gain a better theoretical as well as practical understanding of how a watch works.

This is a unique opportunity to experience what a watchmaker does every day, in a small class of up to six students.

The cost of the taster day is £110.

Contact me at jon@jonthewatch.co.uk to book a place.

London Watchmaking School - Course Overview

Introduction

Welcome to London Watchmaking School, where we offer comprehensive horological courses designed for individuals ranging from complete beginners to seasoned horologists and professional watchmakers. Our comprehensive 40-week program (120 hours) aims to provide both practical and theoretical understanding in watch servicing and repair catering to various skill levels.

 

Here at London Watchmaking School, we teach a Year One course and a Year Two course in the workshop, as well as real-time online remote lessons using a multi-camera streaming system.

Bespoke tuition is also provided. We have trained watchmakers from watch companies and service centres such as Christopher Ward Watches, Mr. Jones Watches, Camden Watch Company and WTC Watch Repairs, to name a few, as well as jewellers who want to gain the skills to perform in-house work.

 

Year One Course Structure

  • Entry Level: Assumes no prior knowledge of watch mechanics.

  • Duration: 40 weeks (120 hours).

  • Lesson Format: Three-hour sessions each week, including 30 – 45 minutes of theory followed by a practical watchmaking session.

  • Materials: Lessons in PowerPoint format will be provided weekly via cloud-based storage.

  • PowerPoint: 40 PowerPoint presentations with over 2500 pages of videos and detailed pictorial content.

Course Content

Participants will gain expertise in a wide range of watchmaking skills, including but not limited to:

  • Servicing hand-wound mechanical movements.

  • History and development of watchmaking.

  • Tools, techniques, and workshop practices.

  • Opening watch cases.

  • Disassembly, reassembly, and fault checking of movements.

  • Lever escapements: Action, checking, adjusting, and regulation.

  • Keyless-work variations and understanding functions of parts.

  • Fault finding: Understanding how a watch works and why it doesn’t.

  • Using a watchmaker’s staking tool.

  • Bench metalwork skills: Cut, file, shape, and polish.

  • Acrylic, mineral & sapphire crystal removal and replacement.

  • Theoretical and practical aspects of watchmaking.

  • Using a watch cleaning machine.

  • Oiling of jewels.

  • Polishing pivots & pinions using a jacot tool.

  • Adjusting balance springs.

  • Watch jewels – Replacement and adjustment.

  • Making hand levers – Annealing, hardening & tempering skills.

  • Adjusting and regulating working serviced movements.

  • Using a timegrapher – Fault finding & timing.

  • Detailed understanding of how the Swiss lever escapement works.

  • Full strip-down, fault finding, cleaning, assembly, and lubrication of every movement in each module.

  • Ability to oil both shockproof and non-shock-proofed cap jewels in vintage and modern watches.

Course Outcome

By the completion of the 120-hour course, participants will:

  • Gain an intimate understanding of how a watch works.

  • Know why it works in a particular way.

  • Learn how to correct most faults.

Certification

The course does not provide a qualification of its own but aims to equip students with practical and theoretical knowledge in watch servicing and repair, along with useful techniques and tips.

Professional Development

For those considering a professional qualification in the future:

  • Bring a camera to document your progress.

  • Make your own notes to build a portfolio.

  • Course options and professional advice are available.

 

Success Stories

Four previous students who completed the first and second-year courses are now employed as watchmakers and technicians on a full-time basis.

One student who completed the first-year course is now furthering his training with Patek Phillipe in Switzerland after successfully completing a bench-test and several interviews. Another first-year student has recently enrolled at Birmingham University to begin his BA (Hons) training in watchmaking.

Tools and Equipment

  • Each height adjustable workbench is equipped with simul-focal stereo microscopes.

  • All equipment is provided to use in the workshop, such as staking tools, jewelling tools, timegraphers, cleaning machines, etc.

  • All necessary tools for the course are available in our 'starter' tool boxes for the first six weeks.

  • Students are encouraged to build their own collection of tools by week 5 or 6.

  • The approximate cost for a basic tool kit is £150 (excluding the price of a toolbox).

Books and Learning Materials

  • Recommended books to supplement learning.

  • Guidance on tools, prices, and where to acquire them.

  • The first watch is an ST36, provided at an additional cost of £80.

Further Learning

  • Suggestions for additional tools and equipment for home practice.

  • Advice on expanding tool collection based on individual progress.

Course Cost and Schedule

  • £1320 for the 40-week course.

  • Additional £80 covers the cost of the first watch and spare parts.

  • Term begins on Tuesday 9th September 2025.

  • Lessons held from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.

  • Three terms over the academic year, from 11 to 15 weeks in each term.

Location

Wimbledon Art Studios, near Tooting, South London, SW17 0BB.

  • 10 minutes from Tooting Broadway Tube Station.

  • Nearest mainline station: Earlsfield.

 

Conclusion

At London Watchmaking School, our goal is to empower students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the world of watchmaking. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced horologist, our courses offer a unique and enriching learning experience.

For further inquiries or enrolment information, please contact us at info@londonwatchmakingschool.com

ABOUT JON THE WATCH…

With over 35 years of diverse engineering experience, Jon has journeyed through roles as a blacksmith, tinsmith, welder, and fabricator. His projects have spanned from fabricating spiral staircases to constructing bomb-proof window frames in the House of Commons. Along this path, he found his home with watchmaking.

Jon developed his skills in horology training in Essex for several years, supplementing this education with countless hours in my home workshop, with more esoteric and complex watches.

In a previous role, he facilitated groups and provided education in detox and rehab units across London. Over time, he evolved into a keyworker, focusing on supporting individuals whose lives had taken unexpected turns.​​

With the skills he had acquired with engineering, watchmaking and keyworking, he now shares his knowledge by teaching Sunday taster days once a month, as well as a structured weekly evening class, introducing complete beginners to the art of watchmaking.

There is also a second-year course, a natural progression from the initial curriculum. This advanced course focussed on more complicated automatic and chronograph watches, as well as precision repairs involving the replacement and setting of jewels and balance staffs. Using a watchmaker's lathe and a jacot tool for polishing pivots, hairspring manipulation and jewelling are covered in-depth.

Recently, Jon founded the London Watchmaking School in South London, creating a space for individuals of all skill levels. From complete novices to seasoned professional watchmakers looking to enhance their technical and theoretical understanding, our courses cater to diverse interests. The classes, limited to six students, take place in the evenings within a well-equipped watchmaking workshop.

This school is not just about learning; it's a platform for individuals to discover the theoretical and practical aspects of watchmaking, empowering students to eventually service their own watches, through hands-on, in-person and online education in an environment tailored for optimal learning.

Beyond Jon’s role as a watchmaking tutor, he enjoys the hands-on practice of servicing and repairing a wide array of watches. His expertise spans the spectrum, from modern timepieces to vintage treasures, encompassing everything from straightforward hand-wound mechanicals to intricate chronographs, even including the servicing of quartz watches that have become obsolete.

His specialisation lies in the restoration of vintage Rolex and Omega watches, a process that involves breathing life and love back into timepieces that hold both historical and sentimental value. This extends to watches that have endured significant water damage, requiring intricate attention to the movement, dial, and hands.

For Jon, watchmaking is more than a job; it's a manifestation of love made visible. It's a belief that each watch carries a unique story through each keeper’s journey, rather than just a collection of cogs, wheels and springs.