WOSTEP
Encyclopedia
The Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program is an internationally recognized professional qualification in the maintenance and care of fine-quality watch
es. 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
.
. It was originally designed to train American watchmakers in techniques of watchmaking that developed in Geneva
and the Jura mountains
as from the 16th Century.
It is important to understand that at the time of the founding of Wostep, 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, even establishing their own subsidiaries in Switzerland, (e.g. Waltham Watch Company
, Hamilton Watch Company
, Benrus
, Bulova
), to keep them going another 10–20 years before folding completely in U.S.A.
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.
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 reins 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.
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
es. It was devised by the Centre Suisse de Formation et de Perfectionnement Horloger and is sponsored by manufacturers and retailers within the horological
Horology
Horology is the art or science of measuring time. Clocks, watches, clockwork, sundials, clepsydras, timers, time recorders and marine chronometers are all examples of instruments used to measure time.People interested in horology are called horologists...
industry in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Origin
During the 1960s, and at the request of the U.S. Government, the Swiss government created what would eventually evolve into WOSTEP- Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FHFederation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH is the Swiss watch industry's leading trade association.-History:...
. It was originally designed to train American watchmakers in techniques of watchmaking that developed in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and the Jura mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
as from the 16th Century.
It is important to understand that at the time of the founding of Wostep, 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, even establishing their own subsidiaries in Switzerland, (e.g. Waltham Watch Company
Waltham Watch Company
The Waltham Watch Company, also known as the American Waltham Watch Co. and the American Watch Co., produced about 40 million high quality watches, clocks, speedometers, compasses, time fuses and other precision instruments between 1850 and 1957...
, Hamilton Watch Company
Hamilton Watch Company
The Hamilton Watch Company was originally formed to produce high quality pocket watches and wristwatches mid-range and luxury. Hamilton would become a corporate conglomerate diversified in other operations...
, Benrus
Benrus
The Benrus Watch Company Inc., was founded in New York City in the 1920s by Benjamin Lazrus. The name "BENRUS" originates from the combination of Benjamin Lazrus' forename and surname. In the 1960s, the Fair Trade Commission determined that Benrus marketing practices were misleading for a minority...
, Bulova
Bulova
Bulova is a corporation making luxury watches and clocks. It has its headquarters in Woodside, Queens, New York City.Bulova was founded and incorporated as the J. Bulova Company in 1875 by Joseph Bulova , an immigrant from Bohemia...
), to keep them going another 10–20 years before folding completely in U.S.A.
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.
World-WideTraining Programs
The Federation developed an 11-month training program in which a watchmaker was flown to Neuchâtel 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 reins 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.