A New Home For American Watchmaking

It might not be the first thing you think of in today’s digitally connected world, but mechanical watchmaking has a long and storied history in the United States. Going back more than 150 years, there has been a strong culture of watchmaking in this country and countless innovations can be tied back to watchmakers on this side of the Atlantic.

And now it's time to write the next chapter in that ongoing story. For decades, mechanical watchmaking has been experiencing a resurgence as new customers learn to appreciate the tradition and craftsmanship that goes into making these special timekeepers. But, crucially, there aren’t enough watchmakers to keep up.

While a high-quality mechanical watch can, in theory, work forever if properly maintained, there need to be trained watchmakers available to do that crucial maintenance work. A mechanical watch should be serviced every 5-10 years on average and it is important to ensure that there are skilled watchmakers available in every corner of the globe to handle these kinds of needs. Without them, the value proposition and longevity of a high-quality watch are greatly diminished.

This is why the Rolex Watchmaking Training Center was founded – to ensure a bright future for Rolex watchmaking in the United States. Assembling a faculty of talented watchmakers from across the United States is just the start – combine that with state-of-the-art facilities, a student-first approach, and a specially developed curriculum, and you have a whole new kind of watchmaking school.

Students work practically with watches and movements from day one and the Rolex Watchmaking Training Program is the only watchmaking school in the United States that dedicates a full six months to hands-on work specifically with Rolex watches. Our instructors strive to be mentors who help students grow as both watchmakers and people during their time in the program and our guaranteed job placement ensures that graduates seamlessly enter a successful career in watchmaking within the Rolex Service Network. And, importantly, our program is entirely tuition-free, opening watchmaking up as a career path to as many people as possible.

As we get ready to welcome our first cohort of students in Dallas, Texas, this September, we are excited not just about the possibilities of what these students will achieve in their own careers, but also the impact that all of us, together, can have on watchmaking in America for generations to come.