Welcome to LWT

This is where my journey towards a career in watchmaking begins.

I'll be spending two years here at the Lititz Watch Technicum, learning the art of watchmaking from some truly brilliant minds. This site will chronicle my progression from a starry-eyed novice to (hopefully) an experienced graduate, ready to join a vibrant and passionate community of master craftspeople.

LWT teaches the SAWTA (Swiss American Watchmaker Training Alliance) curriculum, which was created by Rolex to address the critical lack of qualified watchmakers in the U.S. Our classes will focus on four main areas:

1. Watch Service. We will learn to service, diagnose and repair all aspects of a watch movement, using standard models that are commonly found "in the wild."
2. Micromechanics. That is to say, creating parts from the bare metal. While the modern service environment rarely requires a watchmaker to create their own parts (vintage restoration aside), filing, sawing and turning on the lathe are the marks of a true master. Micromechanics not only teaches us to create, but also reinforces the way that parts interact, allowing us to understand watchmaking on a fundamental level.
3. Casing & Finishing. Polishing can make or break a watch, and is an absolutely essential element of after-sales service. Instead of only looking inside, the curriculum seeks to provide a wholistic view of watch service, in line with what a watchmaker is likely to encounter in the professional world.
4. After-Sales Service. From ordering parts to sharing in a customer's excitement about their fine timepiece, watchmakers are an ever more critical element of the high-end watch and jewelry sales environment.

There will be much to say about all of this, and I encourage you to join me as I face this exciting and challenging new chapter in my life!