History- Ecole d'Horlogerie - Technicum Neuchateloise, La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

Nestling in Switzerland's Watch Valley, La-Chaux-de-Fonds is home to Watchmaking, and was home to probably one of Switzerland's and perhaps the world's premier most institution of it's kind, the Technicum Neuchateloise, Ecole de l'Horlogerie et de Microtechnique.

Sadly no longer in existence, it's demise due in part to the short term vision of cantonal wanna be's, and lack of funds at a time when the crisis point in Swiss watchmaking wasn't over yet. In the early days the Metier (Trade) of Watchmaking was to pass from hand to hand from the 1900's upto almost the modern day, this prestigious establishment, neglected in kindness, fell to the vagueness of the era. From it's ashes, phoenix like rose the Cifom, which today leads the way for young watchmaker trainees and apprentices. The course of a 4 year apprentice being brought down to just 3. Modernity at a cost!

I can still see my window, where I worked long hours into the wee twilight, with the winter flakes on the window sill, and the fading light egging me on to complete my devoirs (tasks) for the day. My professor with his glasses at a tilted angle, finally telling me it was time to go home.....

Monsieur Pierre Girardet still lives in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, and his former student, me, still visits La-Chaux-de-Fonds with fondest memories. The kind of schooling that was the old school of watchmaking is sort of replaced with a stoic change, perhaps a sign of the times. What distresses me most is the fact that so many older techniques are being passed over, and new generations forget the techniques that was endearing to the watchmaking instructors, and trade alike. Indeed it was passed on, like parent to child.

Fortune seldom forges it's own ways, and when we are young, we do not realise the importance of being there at the right time, at the right place. So too, were the young students, who were inadvertently receiving the right training for all the wrong reasons, they perhaps didn't need it, or didn't appreciate it! Alas, History has a way of getting behind you, mostly.

Fortunately in my case, this part of my life, actually formed the strong base of formation which was to lead into understanding complex SAV structure! When asked again to form an atelier for Maurice Lacroix, in the United Kingdom in 2002, the previous training in Switzerland under various technical teams was recalled. Lots of technicalities had changed, and a refresher course was assembled in order to understand the manifold technicalities that Swiss movement manufacturing had finally metamorphosed into.

The process of a trainee becoming a watchmaker and onto trainer is by one's own understanding and or just plain experience, requires much contemplation. Within those frequent trips to Switzerland, old school terminologies and training came in for close and minute scrutiny.

For a better understanding, consider this, there are no remaining old school watchmaker training institutes. There are watch schools that will teach you different 'modules' and magnify the movement basics, but they will not be a patch near the old Technicum Neuchateloise. Why? Because, quite simply Industry has changed, and what is to become worser still, the Trainers that used to train the students have now passed into retirement. Leaving the old guard veritably vulnerable against rapid change. Significant advancements in this field have been made by Wostep their curriculum leaves bare minimums for the student to contend with after their graduations. These are case specific, and depend on the outcome of each student's aptitude to adapt to the brand that they are servicing or working for. However, this is being threatened by a lack of trainers worldwide.

Meanwhile the Swiss Watch Industry continues to spiral out of control, and out of the reach of it's own parameters. The SAV problem, in the near future, will be in my opinion the battle ground of the behemoths of the Industry. Watchmakers will be scarcer still, and definitely the scenarios will be something to watch out for.

Contact  prem@primetimecanada.com