Industry | Fine mechanics |
---|---|
Founded | 2001 |
Headquarters | Lititz, Pennsylvania, United States |
Products |
Chronographs Mikromechanics |
Website | lititzwatchtechnicum.org |
The Lititz Watch Technicum is a watchmaking school located in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and was designed by an architect Michael Graves. [1] [2] The school, founded by Rolex in 2001, was created to help make up for the deficiency of skilled watchmakers in the United States. [3] [4] In the mid-1970's, there were 44 watchmaking academies in America, but by 2001 the number had dwindled to just ten, [5] and in 2019 only six remained. [6] The 54,000 square foot facility on Wynfield Drive also houses the Rolex service center. [5]
Offering free tuition to its inaugural September 2001 class, Rolex received hundreds of applications, but accepted only twelve students. Ranging age from 17 to 37, [5] [7] they were taught in three classrooms over an 11-month academic year, eight hours a day, five days a week. [2] Charles Berthiaume, director of the school, told the Associated Press "With the shortage of watchmakers, we're literally missing a generation." [7]
The Technicum offers a two-year, 3000+ hour SAWTA (Swiss American Watchmaker's Training Alliance) curriculum. Tuition is free, however, students must pay for the cost of their toolkits, which is around $7000, along with housing and meals. [8] The program focuses on micromechanics and watch service for high-end, luxury watches with a strong emphasis on chronographs. [9]
In 2010, the school, established as a nonprofit foundation, became an educational subsidiary of the Rolex corporation. At the time, principal Herman Mayer was one of its three instructors and 21 students were enrolled. [10]
By 2017, the Lititz Watch Technicum had put 148 students though its 3,500 hour training program with an 85% graduation rate. [5]
Industry | Fine mechanics |
---|---|
Founded | 2001 |
Headquarters | Lititz, Pennsylvania, United States |
Products |
Chronographs Mikromechanics |
Website | lititzwatchtechnicum.org |
The Lititz Watch Technicum is a watchmaking school located in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and was designed by an architect Michael Graves. [1] [2] The school, founded by Rolex in 2001, was created to help make up for the deficiency of skilled watchmakers in the United States. [3] [4] In the mid-1970's, there were 44 watchmaking academies in America, but by 2001 the number had dwindled to just ten, [5] and in 2019 only six remained. [6] The 54,000 square foot facility on Wynfield Drive also houses the Rolex service center. [5]
Offering free tuition to its inaugural September 2001 class, Rolex received hundreds of applications, but accepted only twelve students. Ranging age from 17 to 37, [5] [7] they were taught in three classrooms over an 11-month academic year, eight hours a day, five days a week. [2] Charles Berthiaume, director of the school, told the Associated Press "With the shortage of watchmakers, we're literally missing a generation." [7]
The Technicum offers a two-year, 3000+ hour SAWTA (Swiss American Watchmaker's Training Alliance) curriculum. Tuition is free, however, students must pay for the cost of their toolkits, which is around $7000, along with housing and meals. [8] The program focuses on micromechanics and watch service for high-end, luxury watches with a strong emphasis on chronographs. [9]
In 2010, the school, established as a nonprofit foundation, became an educational subsidiary of the Rolex corporation. At the time, principal Herman Mayer was one of its three instructors and 21 students were enrolled. [10]
By 2017, the Lititz Watch Technicum had put 148 students though its 3,500 hour training program with an 85% graduation rate. [5]