HSNY Watchmaking class
I would look to put in a plug for the watchmaking classes at HSNY in NYC. I’m live 4.5hrs outside the city and have a kid that lives in lower Manhattan. On a family trip last weekend I went to a Saturday class. The class covered some history, theory, and the disassembly/assembly of a ETA 6497 taught by a couple highly skilled professional watchmakers. Everyone had their own bench and tools. Really great class. I’m an engineer with a full time job so I don’t have the time to go to college for another degree. I love the weekend/evening class at a time option.
Have you ever thought of taking a class?
If you could take some classes what do you aspire to?
I’d like to rescue some watches that just need some basic service and get them back in circulation. What about you?
Mechanical engineer working in medical devices that fell in love with mechanical watches. It started with an Elgin from my great grandfather inscribed Christmas 1912 that I restored and grew from ther...
When I go to Switzerland, I fully plan on taking a day to attend a class.
I have taken some online classes, where we played with the same movement. This movement is very popular for classes because it is larger than your usual wrist watch movement.
Was it a Swiss 6497 or a Chinese clone (ST3600)? When you disassembled the movement, did you also take out and lubricated balance jewels? Also, did you disassemble the mainspring barrel and take out the main spring? Those two things are most difficult for me.
It was an origional eta and not a clone. Did everything except main spring
I've thought about it. HSNY is about five blocks from work. The $200+ price tag puts me off a bit, not that the price is unfair. Someday I'll find some same for it.
I’ve “gone to school” mostly via Wrist Watch Revival and others on YouTube. I have successfully rescued a few eBay finds, though I was pretty fortunate finding some that needed little more than TLC. My first was beyond repair, but learned why and dis-/re-assembled it several times, learning tweezer skills under magnification. I liken it to med students learning anatomy on cadavers.
I’m working my way through a small lot of watches. Salvaged one already but others my be unrecoverable. I’m enjoying it for the skills and problem solving but don’t think I’d want to do it under pressures of customers and schedules.
I've thought about it. HSNY is about five blocks from work. The $200+ price tag puts me off a bit, not that the price is unfair. Someday I'll find some same for it.
Yup I get it. It feels like a lot of money. But 6 students and some expensive instructors, it’s a good deal. Plenty of individual attention and hands on help
I’ve “gone to school” mostly via Wrist Watch Revival and others on YouTube. I have successfully rescued a few eBay finds, though I was pretty fortunate finding some that needed little more than TLC. My first was beyond repair, but learned why and dis-/re-assembled it several times, learning tweezer skills under magnification. I liken it to med students learning anatomy on cadavers.
I’m working my way through a small lot of watches. Salvaged one already but others my be unrecoverable. I’m enjoying it for the skills and problem solving but don’t think I’d want to do it under pressures of customers and schedules.
I in the same you tube rabbit holes. Picked up some nice tips and extra insights from class I appreciate
I plan on doing this the next time they do the “traveling class” in DC
Is that your hand(s)? Cool pic
I plan on doing this the next time they do the “traveling class” in DC
Is that your hand(s)? Cool pic
Stole that image off the HSNY web site
I went all the way and got my SAWTA 🤪 Learned an absolutely incredible amount. Even after working on watches 8-12hrs a day for 2 years, you come out of school very much an amateur and with an infinite amount of learning still to do.
I went all the way and got my SAWTA 🤪 Learned an absolutely incredible amount. Even after working on watches 8-12hrs a day for 2 years, you come out of school very much an amateur and with an infinite amount of learning still to do.
Cool, did you go full time or part time to get your degree?
Cool, did you go full time or part time to get your degree?
Full time. Not aware of any places that offer a part time SAWTA. Though, the trajectory of education seems to unfortunately be moving away from full time watchmaker certs to part time technician certification
For a full time professional I think that normal degree program makes a lot of sense. You never know what you’re going to run into and have to be ready for all of it. As a hobby, I can pick and choose what I want to buy and work on. I can avoid things that are outside my skill. I appreciate that there are sone low end paths for the hobbyist.
I took an HSNY course last year in Atlanta during their traveling "school". I believe it was the 101-103 course. I'm taking 104 when they come again later this year. The first one was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Sounds like the same class I took