WOSTEP

The Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program is an internationally recognized professional qualification in the maintenance and care of fine-quality watches. It was devised by the Centre Suisse de Formation et de Perfectionnement Horloger and is sponsored by manufacturers and retailers within the horological industry in Switzerland.

During the 1960s, and at the request of the U.S. Government, the Swiss government created what would eventually evolve into WOSTEP- The Federation of Swiss Watchmakers. It was originally designed to train American watchmakers in techniques of watchmaking that developed in certain parts of Switzerland over a period of approx. 150-200 years.

It is important to understand that at the time of the founding of the Federation, America was losing its title as "World's Largest Watch Producer" to the Soviet Union (mostly making poor-quality everyday watches). As American watch companies continued to slide into oblivion after the end of WWII, some were able to update by purchasing movements from Swiss companies to keep them going another 10-20 years before folding completely.

It was this reason that the U.S. requested some sort of formalized training for its best watchmakers. There had always been relatively small imports of ultra-fine Swiss watches, but post WWII the number of watches imported either as partial or complete watches grew exponentially. These "modern" watch movements were decidedly different from the American companies' products, which grew out of 100 years of manufacturing (starting mass production of quality watches). American manufacturers were not able to develop new products and new methods to compete and were destroyed in record time.

The Federation developed an 11-month training program in which a watchmaker was flown to Neuchatel, Switzerland, and trained by any one of many talented instructors that worked at WOSTEP over the years.

Recent changes in structure have assured the survival of WOSTEP as a foundation with a beautiful lakefront chateau converted to the school building. With the retirement of long-time director Antoine Simonin and his wife, the next generation has taken the reigns and continues to develop courses for full training used throughout the world at their WOSTEP-Partnership Schools. The school also provides a variety of industry-specific training to companies and practicing watchmakers.

External links

* [http://www.wostep.ch WOSTEP official website]