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How much does it cost to become a watchmaker?

Writer: Nuno Margalha
Nuno Margalha
1 hour ago
5 min read

Today, the IPR stands out in Portugal as the only organisation offering watchmaking courses for adults, under the name "Alfaiates do Tempo". Casa Pia de Lisboa, for its part, offers the Watchmaking Technician course, but it is intended exclusively for those who have not yet completed Year 12. In this essay, we invite you to discover four options for starting your training in the world of watchmaking, whether in Portugal, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.


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In Portugal, the art of watchmaking has been passed on and cultivated for more than a century and a quarter. Yet many craftsmen in this refined profession honour the tradition, having acquired their knowledge under the guidance of master watchmakers in their workshops. Below we present four options for those who aspire to begin their journey in the world of watchmaking, as well as a selection of prestigious Swiss schools dedicated to this art.




IPR - Instituto Português de Relojoaria

Alfaiates do Tempo


The Alfaiates do Tempo course, in Lisbon, lasts 12 months, with theoretical and practical sessions every fortnight. The main trainers are Master Watchmakers Américo Henriques (theory) and Paulo Anastácio (practice).


Students receive a hand-wound watch and a case of professional tools at the start, and no previous experience is required to enrol.


The "Alfaiates do Tempo" watchmaking course combines practical and theoretical components. In the practical component, trainees are taught about tools and workshop safety, materials technology and toolmaking, as well as the servicing and repair of a wide range of timepieces, from mechanical pendulum clocks to analogue electronic watches. On the theoretical side, the programme delves into the history of timekeeping and the functional analysis of mechanical and electronic watches, among other key topics for a thorough understanding of the watchmaker's art.


The total cost of the course includes a one-off registration fee of €300 and a monthly fee of €250 for 12 months.


At the end, students receive a certificate from the IPR - Instituto Português de Relojoaria and one from DGERT, the acronym of the Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho (Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations). It is a public body which, among other functions, accredits training providers, guaranteeing the quality of vocational training in the country.


The total cost of the Alfaiates do Tempo course is: €3,300
More info: Lisbon; Porto



Casa Pia de Lisboa

Watchmaking Technician


The Centro de Educação e Desenvolvimento Pina Manique, in Lisbon, offers a three-year Vocational Course in Watchmaking, intended exclusively for young people who have completed Year 9 but have not finished Year 12. The programme teaches students to manage after-sales technical service and to maintain and repair a wide variety of mechanical and electronic watches, and prepares them to work in technical service companies, watch shops and jewellers.


Casa Pia de Lisboa has a long tradition of training watchmakers, and its course is recognised as the only one of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula. The course is demanding, requiring a high level of concentration and fine motor skills, but it prides itself on a 100% employment rate.


Cost: free of charge
More info: Casa Pia



BHI - British Horological Institute (distance course)


Distance learning courses (DLC)


Distance learning in watchmaking, offered through the DLC courses, is aimed at professionals and enthusiasts alike. These courses, which let you learn at your own pace, have existed for more than half a century and are regularly updated.


The training is delivered entirely at a distance, starting with manuals for study. Each manual ends with a practical exercise, often involving toolmaking. Once completed, these exercises must be sent to the BHI by post and, after marking, are returned to the student.


On completion, students may sit examinations to obtain the BHI's professional accreditation in horology, although this step is not compulsory. Two DLCs are available: "Technician Grade" and "Combined Intermediate and Final Grade", with the option to specialise in watches or clocks. Each course includes independent modules and practical exercises.


For those seeking more detailed feedback, tutor feedback can be requested for an additional fee. Membership is a prerequisite for enrolling in the DLC, and also gives access to the members' area, the monthly "Horological Journal" and other training. The price of the course varies according to its type and the student's geographical location, and once the DLC has been purchased, no refunds are given.


Technician Grade without / with tutor: €769 / €1421; Combined Intermediate and Final Grade €523.
More info: BHI



WOSTEP


The Watchmaker programme at WOSTEP Neuchâtel, which began in August 2025 and ends in May 2027, is an intensive full-time programme lasting 22 months, totalling 3,000 hours. During this period, students build up practical experience, including the opportunity to create their own school watch. In addition to practical training, the topics covered include watchmaking theory, micromechanics practice and knowledge of chronographs and small complications. Application requirements include being over 21, previous work experience (not in watchmaking) and fluency in English.


In terms of costs, the tuition fee is CHF 34,600, which is equivalent to around €36,330 at an exchange rate of CHF 1 = €1.05. This amount includes administrative expenses, a complete set of tools and theory books, among other resources. There are additional costs of €9,702 as a financial guarantee, which is refunded monthly after deduction of the Swiss health insurance premium. Accommodation in a shared student flat will cost between €14,437.50 and €17,902.50 for the 22 months, depending on the room category. The WOSTEP certificate, awarded at the end of the course, is recognised worldwide by the Swiss watch industry.


So the WOSTEP course, including accommodation, could come to €63,934
More info: WOSTEP


Other schools in Switzerland


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