Global Watchmaking Education Weekly Report (Week of Oct 29 – Nov 4, 2025)

Overview

During the week leading up to Nov 4 2025, the watchmaking education landscape saw several noteworthy developments. In the United States, the American Watchmakers‐Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) reported on the success of its Build a Watch courses and hosted its annual fall symposium. Donations and grants continued to strengthen educational programs—both the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) and the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative (VWI) received support from private companies and jewellers. Schools and non‑profits also highlighted plans to expand access to education and announced scholarships. This report summarizes the key news, events and context from around the world.

Key News and Events

AWCI expands education offerings and celebrates symposium success (U.S.)

Affiliate chapter grows education programs for enthusiasts (Oct 27) – AWCI’s November issue of Horological Times explained that the Build a Watch program, which lets collectors assemble watches they customise, has thrived for more than seven years. Hundreds of collectors across the U.S. have built their own watches, and demand for entry‑level courses is rising. AWCI cited Mastercard research showing that U.S. spending on experiences grew 65 percent from 2019–2023 while spending on physical goods grew only 12 percent. The article highlighted the Horological Society of Utah (HSU), founded in 2020, which has hosted nearly 60 events and grown to more than 170 supporting members; HSU blends casual watch meet‑ups with structured education and is collaborating with AWCI to expand entry‑level programsawci.com. This reflects the broader shift toward experience‑based learning and community‑driven watch education.

2025 AWCI Fall Symposium (Oct 27) – AWCI’s Fall Symposium at its Ohio headquarters (Sept 25–27) drew about 120 attendees. Described as “AWCI’s Christmas,” the event blended education, networking and fellowship and has become the organisation’s hallmark annual gathering. Attendees praised the symposium and expressed eagerness for the 2026 editionawci.com.

Greenwood grants reward emerging watchmakers (Oct 27) – AWCI’s Education, Library and Museum Trust awarded Harold J. and Marie Borneman Greenwood Memorial Fund Grants (US$2,000 each) to three U.S. watchmaking students from Paris Junior College (Texas), Gem City College (Illinois) and North Seattle College (Washington). Recipient Jenna Mattson of Paris Junior College is a third‑generation horologist who aims to continue her family’s watchmaking legacyawci.com.

Building international partnerships – AWCI’s education director Jason Champion visited the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Programme (WOSTEP) headquarters in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. WOSTEP, a long‑time member of AWCI’s Research and Education Council, supports AWCI’s mission and helps align U.S. programs with Swiss training standardsawci.com. AWCI also represented horology at “Converge,” a new jewellery‑industry trade event in California, signalling plans to bring watchmaking education to broader luxury and jewellery forumsawci.com.

Donations and scholarships fuel watchmaking education

Armitron supports the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative (Nov 3) – As part of its 50th‑anniversary give‑back campaign, Armitron donated 50 watches to the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative (VWI) in Odessa, Delaware. VWI is the only U.S. technical school solely dedicated to teaching watchmaking to disabled veterans. Armitron CEO Bobbie Weichselbaum said the donation aims to support veterans rebuilding their lives through technical education. VWI board chair Sam Cannan noted that the gift will directly aid veterans learning watchmaking and help them regain a livelihoodprnewswire.com. The donation underscores corporate interest in supporting veteran‑focused trade schools.

Wilson & Son Jewelers enhances HSNY’s workshop (Sept 25) – New York jeweller Wilson & Son donated an Elmasolvex VA professional watch‑cleaning machine, valued at US$27,000, to the Horological Society of New York (HSNY). The machine will allow students to work with industry‑standard equipment during HSNY workshops. Matthew Wilson described the gift as supporting HSNY’s mission to “educate and preserve horological tradition”nationaljeweler.com.

HSNY expands financial aid and launches independent watchmaker grants (Oct 31) – HSNY received a US$470,000 donation from the Kyle and Anna Vogt Foundation, tripling HSNY’s annual scholarship pool from $160,000 to $480,000. The donation also established a new Independent Watchmaker Grant Program with $150,000 in funding to help independent watchmakers purchase tools and cover start‑up costs. The expanded scholarships will be open to international applicants for the first timehs-ny.orghs-ny.org. Kyle Vogt (CEO of Cruise and co‑founder of Twitch) emphasised that preserving craftsmanship in a digital era is vital, while HSNY Executive Director Nicholas Manousos said the donation will accelerate watchmaking innovation and make training more accessible.

Watchmaking schools and outreach

Cimier Watch Academy roadshow arrives in the U.S. – Swiss watch brand Cimier is bringing its Watch Academy roadshow to the United States. Participants attend hands‑on workshops where they assemble a watch with guidance from master watchmakers; attendees leave with a completed watch and are taught the basics of mechanical watchmakingqigroup.com. The roadshow toured Boston, Chicago, Houston, Seattle and Washington, D.C., in spring 2025 and will host a November 2025 workshop in Austin, Texasqigroup.com. This program introduces laypeople to watchmaking and demonstrates growing public interest in experiential learning.

Paris Junior College receives HSNY grant – Community College Daily reported that Paris Junior College in Texas received a US$6,250 grant from HSNY’s Howard Robbins Award and US$20,000 in scholarships for four watchmaking students. Program coordinator Garrin Fraze said the funds will help the college expand its watchmaking program and support its largest incoming class in years. He added that support for U.S. watchmaking education is strong and the HSNY gift will help maintain momentumccdaily.com.

Context and additional developments (earlier 2025)

  • Rolex relocates its watchmaking school – In August, Rolex closed its Lititz Watch Technicum in Pennsylvania and moved training to its larger Dallas service center. The 3,000‑hour curriculum remains free (students pay for tools and housing), and the Dallas expansion doubles the program’s sizewitf.org. This workforce‑driven change underscores the U.S. watch industry’s need for more technicians.

  • Hodinkee covers FHH’s public online training – Hodinkee reported in July that the Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) launched an online watch‑education platform offering multi‑language courses and a “Watch Makers” exhibition. FHH said its academy has trained more than 40,000 people and issued over 15,000 certificates, and the FHH Forum would be held outside Switzerland for the first time (New York City)hodinkee.com. Although earlier in the year, this story shows the shift toward accessible, digital watch education.

  • K&H Watchmaking Competence Centre (Switzerland) – The independent KHWCC continues to offer programmes emphasising watchmaking fundamentals and creative independence. It remains self‑funded to avoid reliance on corporate donations and lists course openings through 2026khwcc.ch.

Analysis

  • Experience‑driven learning is thriving: AWCI’s Build a Watch program and Cimier’s hands‑on workshops highlight a trend toward experiential education, appealing to enthusiasts and novices who want to build or repair their own watches. Mastercard data showing experiential spending outpacing physical goods purchases underscores why organisations are investing in workshopsawci.com.

  • Private donations are critical: The week’s biggest news involved philanthropic support. HSNY’s multi‑million‑dollar boost from the Vogt Foundation will triple scholarships and fund independent watchmakershs-ny.org. Corporate donors like Armitron and Wilson & Son are also contributing equipment and resourcesprnewswire.comnationaljeweler.com. These contributions signal recognition that watchmaking, a niche craft, requires substantial investment to train skilled artisans.

  • Schools remain limited but growing: AWCI’s report of high demand and Paris Junior College’s record class show that U.S. watchmaking programs are expanding. However, Rolex’s closure of the Lititz school shows there are still few dedicated watchmaking schools; many rely on industry support or veterans’ initiativeswitf.org.

  • Global collaboration: AWCI’s outreach to WOSTEP and representation at jewellery industry events highlights efforts to globalise and integrate watchmaking education with broader luxury industriesawci.comawci.com. International courses like Cimier’s roadshow and FHH’s online platform further illustrate this globalised approach to training.

Conclusion

The week of Oct 29 – Nov 4 2025 saw continued momentum in watchmaking education. AWCI is expanding entry‑level courses and celebrating the popularity of its symposium, while HSNY’s major endowment and corporate donations demonstrate strong philanthropic backing. Hands‑on programs like Cimier’s Watch Academy and Build a Watch show that the sector is tapping into experiential learning trends. Despite successes, the number of formal schools remains limited, emphasising the need for ongoing support and innovation to train the next generation of watchmakers.