The AWCI is excited to announce upcoming classes at AWCI headquarters in Harrison, Ohio. The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute is taking safety precautions through daily cleaning, maintaining distance in the classroom and face masks to maintain health of participants in classes.
To incorporate missed classes this year, The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute has modified and changed a couple of scheduled classes for the year.
Feel free to contact AWCI if you have any course you would like to participate in and do not see on the schedule. Please contact us at educaiton@awci for participation.
For a fill list of courses, please visit the AWCI's 2020 Education Calendar:
www.awci.com/events/category/education/list.
June 15th-19th Watch 240: Swiss Lever Escapement
The purpose of this course is to gain a good theoretical understanding in order to evaluate the condition of the lever escapement and thus proceed with the verification and analysis of the escapement functions.
Students will learn:
- The fundamentals of the proper functioning of the lever escapement.
- How to make all the adjustments with ease and confidence.
- The effects of adjustments on timing.
- Proper lubrication methods and its effect on timing and overall performance.
June 23rd-26th Watch 175: Case and Bracelet Refinishing
Join AWCI and Carl's Clock and Watch Repair in Colorado Springs, CO for our case and bracelet refinishing course.
July 13th-17th Watch 200: Modern Automatic Watches
The purpose of this course is to teach the student all the fundamentals of modern mechanical automatic watch repair that are most prevalent on today’s market. The student will learn how to perform the various diagnostics in evaluating the condition of the various components, cleaning, assembling, adjustments, dialing and casing.
July 20th-24th Watch 100: Introduction to Watchmaking
A survey course for the new or prospective watchmaker covering the basic skills and techniques used by the modern watchmaker. This class is perfect for anyone thinking about entering the profession of watchmaking or for the individual who just wants to gain a better appreciation for the art of watchmaking.
August 3rd -7th Watch 230: Balance Staffing and Timing
The purpose of this course is to teach the student all the fundamentals of balance staffing. Topics covered will include the verification and analysis of the escapement function, poising (static & dynamic), truing and timing adjustment in a mechanical watch. Cutting out a balance staff on a lathe and adjusting the balance staff, and removing balance staffs from Glucydur balances with the Horia tool.
August 17th - 21st Watch 190: 21st Century Watchmaking Standards
The purpose of this course is to teach the student the fundamentals and tolerances associated with mechanical watch repair. The “Standard Operating Procedures” (SOP’s) used in modern watch repair will be discussed and implemented. Verification and analysis of the individual components of the movement will be assessed and corrected.
For those planning to take any future classes or Brand Specific Training as it helps develop the necessary skill sets to a better training experience. Evaluate your skill set in this course by exploring the fundamentals of modern mechanical watch repair including cleanliness, lubrication, endshake adjustment, and may include the verification and analysis of escapement function.
September 2nd - 4th Watch 102: Watchmaking Theory
Join AWCI for this course which explains the inner workings of a watch. It is a must for anyone considering taking the CW21. It allows you to understand not only functional issues, but theoretical ones as well. Lubrication, isochronism, automatic systems, calendar systems, and much more will be covered. Tests will be given at the end of each section, with answers reviewed. A great way to learn and practice theoretical test taking.
September 9th-11th Clock 120: Introduction to Clockmaking
This course is aimed at analyzing the American style, time-and-strike movement, which are often the “bread-and-butter” of many shops. This introductory course is to present the learner with the various aspects of clocks. There is much to know! What will be stressed in this 3-day hands-on educational program will be an examination of an American style time/strike movement. This movement is a most common example of clocks found in repair centers.
September 14th-18th Watch 155: Fundamentals on Quartz Watches
Join us for this New class which will focus on technician level quartz troubleshooting, diagnostics and service. This class will work with you in preparation for our new quartz Technician certification. In this hands on class we will work to identify movements by brand, dimensions and features for quartz watches. Multiple pieces of timing equipment will be used to diagnose and test quartz movements. Testing parameters and quality control measures will be covered in this class.
September 14th-18th Watch 210: Quartz and Quartz Chronograph Service Procedures and Diagnostics
The purpose of this course is to teach the student all the fundamentals of modern quartz watch repair and quartz chronographs that are most prevalent on today’s market. The student will learn how to perform the various important electronic tests e.g. current consumption, coil resistance, lower working voltage, fault finding etc.
September 21st-25th Watch 220: Modern Mechanical Chronograph
The purpose of this course is to teach the student all the fundamentals of modern mechanical automatic watch repair that are most prevalent on today’s market. The student will learn how to perform the various diagnostics in evaluating the condition of the various components, cleaning, assembling, adjustments, dialing and casing.
October 5th-7th Time Con Herschede Tubular Bell Restoration Class
Michael will share his hard earned knowledge gained from forty years of experience through his extensive power point presentation with over 200 photos that focus on dozens of examples of those issues, both before and after a rebuild, that are unique to the most common Herschede Tubular Bell movements.
October 5th-7th Time Con Watch 420S: Vintage Chronograph Short Course
Back by popular demand, come participate in a vintage chronograph course with Mr. Stoeber. In this course, you will go through theoretically and practically different vintage chronograph calibers with emphasis on troubleshooting, repair and adjustments to each mechanism. Lemania, Landeron and Valjoux calibers will be covered. Sign up quickly!
October 7th Time Con Chronometer Club Seminar - Precision Timing & Dynamic Poising
Learn more about precision timing and dynamic poising and you will leave your watches with better deltas and your customers will be even happier.
October 8th -10th Time Con
Don't miss out on the opportunity to participate in a number of great classes during Tim Con!
October 11th-13th Time Con Practical Gear Cutting for the Horologist
Come to AWCI in our well-equipped machine shop after our convention for this practical, hands on class where gearing and gear cutting will be practiced. Not only will the student learn the basic set ups involved cutting horological gears but multiple approaches to tooling will be explored as well as theory from a practical standpoint.
October 12th-16th Watch 175: Case and Bracelet Refinishing
Polishing a case today requires many skills. Complex case and bracelet designs are common in the marketplace. Standardized polishing methods were often not taught in watchmaking schools here in the U.S. until recently. Many watchmakers learned polishing by trial and error or observing the procedures of others. Today’s consumer has high expectations concerning the quality of the watch repair which includes the refinishing of the case and bracelet. Knowledge is the key.
November 9th-13th Watch 100: Introduction to Watchmaking
A survey course for the new or prospective watchmaker covering the basic skills and techniques used by the modern watchmaker. This class is perfect for anyone thinking about entering the profession of watchmaking or for the individual who just wants to gain a better appreciation for the art of watchmaking.
November 16th-20th Watch 150: Service on the Watch Case: Crystals, Crowns, Tubes and Water Resistance
The purpose of this new course is to teach the student the skills involved with casing. Many skills are needed when dealing with the wide variety of complex case designs. We will explore crystals, case buttons, crowns and case tubes. These components will be serviced (ie taken apart, gaskets replaced, lok-tite applied, etc). Complete disassembly of the cases will be done using the case press and a multitude of various dies. You will learn the proper ways to utilize the case press while minimizing the risk of damaging components. In addition, waterproof testing (both dry and wet methods) will be taught and applied to all of the watch cases you work on. This class also allows for the proper casing and uncasing of a few different types of quartz and mechanical movements as well.
Contact Education Director at AWCI, Jason Champion at [email protected], to register for any of the classes listed.
About The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute
For almost 60 years, AWCI has been working to connect horological professionals in the United States. This year they have expanded their services beyond the professional to the entire horological community. This initiative started with their series of Build a Watch classes, which have been offered in 3 cities so far and which are scheduled for Austin, Detroit, Chicago, and Cincinnati this year, with more cities to be announced next year. For more information, please visit www.americantimepiece.com.
