21 – 25 September 2026 Watch Lathe course – English and Dutch

Intensive one-week practical training.
This course is designed for intermediate to advanced watchmakers who want to learn or deepen their mastery of the watchmakers lathe and apply advanced turning techniques within professional watchmaking practice. Throughout the week, students work under close supervision, allowing for a highly focused and personalized learning experience.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own watchmakers lathe, enabling direct optimization, adjustment, and troubleshooting of their personal equipment.

Week Planning

Monday – Advanced Introduction and Tooling

• Review of watchmakers lathe construction and precision requirements
• Machine inspection, alignment, and accuracy verification
• Collets (spantangen): precision, concentricity, and fault detection
• Cutters: advanced geometry, sharpening techniques, and maintenance
• Safety considerations for high-precision turning
• In-depth maintenance and adjustment of the watchmakers lathe
• Partial and full overhaul procedures
• Eliminating axial and radial play for high-precision work

Tuesday – Drive Systems

• Advanced lubrication strategies and lubricant selection
• Drive systems:
  • Hand drive
  • Single-phase electric motor
  • Three-phase motor with frequency controller
  • Technical comparison, performance, and use-case analysis
  • Machining characteristics of carbon steel and brass
  • Surface finish optimization and tolerance control
• Drive belts:
  • Types of belts and material selection
  • Manufacturing and fitting a drive belt to size
  • Fine tension adjustment and vibration control
• Cutters: advanced geometry, sharpening techniques and maintenance
• Basic turning project

Wednesday to Friday

• Complex turning projects
• Precision winding stem manufacturing without original dimensions
• Making a winding stem based on functional requirements
• Advanced turning techniques and workflow planning
• Finishing, lubrication and Technical Review
• Final finishing of precision-turned components
• Functional testing and dimensional inspection
• Lubrication recap and troubleshooting
• Review of individual projects and week summary

Schedule

This course runs from 09:30 – 17:00 every day. Coffee, stroopwafels, and lunch are included.

Certification

After completion of the course, participants will recethe Chronoglide Watchmakers Lathe Course participation certificate.

Course Level

Intermediate to Advanced.

Course Materials

Students are provided with:

• A course manual
• Sample materials and practice components
• Full access to professional-grade tools and workshop equipment

Number of Participants

Minimum 5 – Maximum 8 participants

Language

The course is taught in English and Dutch.

Duration of the Course

5 days – Monday through Friday, 09:30 – 17:00

Target Audience

This training is intended for watchmakers with prior workshop experience who want to improve accuracy, efficiency, and confidence when working with the watchmakers lathe. Participants will spend five intensive days in a fully equipped workshop, guided by experienced instructors, working on advanced, real-world turning projects.

Method of Delivery

Workshop / classroom format only, with a strong emphasis on hands-on, instructor-guided practical work.

Instructors

Kalle Slaap will be the lead instructor. At least one additional instructor will be present during all practical sessions to provide individual technical support.

Pre-requisites

Previous experience in watchmaking or fine mechanical work is required. Participants should be familiar with basic workshop practices and mechanical principles.

Algemene voorwaarden: Studenten accepteren de algemene voorwaarden van Chronoglide door de cursus te boeken. Klik hier voor alle algemene voorwaarden.