American Watchmakers - Clockmakers Institute
Supporting and Advancing Horology through Education and Cooperation
Don’t learn the hard way! Forewarned is forearmed! Sign up for a lively 4-day, 3-instructor (Michael Gainey, CC21; Jerry Faier, CMC21, FAWCI; Andrew Baron, CC21) seminar in the beautiful Southwest, benefitting from a collective century and a half of personal experience with the most troublesome types of clocks and clock repairs.
The Horological Society of Utah has the unique pleasure to welcome the American Watchmakers and Clockmakers Institute, and the Archie Perkins Mobile Classroom, for an amazing experience of being a Watchmaker for a day.
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, […]
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. This […]
This class encompasses the basics of hairspring manipulations. You will start with a uncolletted, unstudded hairspring. One error at a time will be introduced, and correction and the logic behind the repair will be discussed prior to the correction. Techniques will be shown and through this educational experience strong basics should begin to emerge. Simple […]
Join us at AWCI Headquarters for a 5 day course working on the lever escapement theoretically and practically. Fundamentals of the escapement, how to check and make adjustments will be covered. Lubrication and how adjustments will effect timing will also be covered in the class. Cost: $1195 for AWCI members / $1345 for non-members Class Schedule: 5 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The 2025 Fall CW21 Certification Exam Registration is now being accepted. AWCI will host CW21 certification at its headquarter September 15–19, 2025, offering two core components and all five available elective components during the certification period. As it was during CW21 certification in 2024, the exam is modular and each component can be taken separately, […]
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 […]
