Watchmaker

At A&B Watch Repair, we do the work most retailers send away. We're an independent Chicago watchmaking studio serving collectors, dealers, and owners of mechanical timepieces who want their watches serviced properly rather than swapped out.

Our clients bring us everything from daily-wear automatics to vintage and high-complication pieces. What they get back is a watch that was opened, serviced, and tested by a watchmaker who signed off on it personally. That standard is the whole business, and it's why this is a bench role and not a parts-swapping one.

The role

The Watchmaker is responsible for complete service work at the bench — full overhauls from disassembly through final timing — along with in-shop evaluations, client estimates, and quality control on finished work.

Essential job responsibilities

• Perform complete movement service: disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, inspection, lubrication, reassembly, and timing regulation
• Service and repair quartz and mechanical movements, including chronographs and perpetual calendars
• Diagnose and repair movement faults, including sourcing and fitting replacement parts, and lathe work for parts fabrication and adjustment
• Evaluate incoming watches and prepare accurate repair estimates and turnaround times
• Perform dial installation, hand setting, and casing-up of movements to manufacturer specification, ensuring precise hand alignment and date jump accuracy
• Repair and refinish cases and bracelets: ultrasonic and steam cleaning, polishing and refinishing, replacing pins, screws, links, crystals, dials, hands, gaskets, and batteries
• Perform case assembly and water resistance testing using both dry and wet methods, and document results
• Handle all components with care, maintaining cleanliness and preventing contamination at the bench
• Run final quality control on every piece leaving the shop — timing accuracy on the timegrapher, power reserve, hand alignment, case and bracelet appearance, final wipe-down and wrap
• Maintain clear service records and parts documentation for each job
• Keep the bench, tooling, and calibration equipment in working order

Qualifications

• 2 to 5 years of related master watchmaker experience, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• WOSTEP or CW21 certification; Lititz, AWCI, SAWTA, or equivalent formal training also considered
• Experience repairing and servicing watches, with skills including but not limited to quartz and mechanical movements, chronographs, perpetual calendars, and lathe work
• Familiarity with both Swiss and Japanese movements
• Hands-on bench experience with full service work: disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, reassembly, and regulation
• Ability to repair and refinish cases
• Ability to analyze and diagnose repairs accurately
• Ability to perform water resistance testing using both dry and wet methods
• Proficiency with case assembly, working independently with a production-oriented mindset and close attention to detail
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Background in quality control, with the ability to perform detailed inspections and functional tests on timepieces
• Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail when handling small components and precision instruments
• Ability to read and interpret technical documentation, service manuals, and manufacturer specifications
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple repairs while meeting turnaround commitments
• Effective communication skills and comfort explaining service work to clients in plain terms
• Comfort working on-site in a workshop environment, adhering to safety, cleanliness, and security standards
• Previous experience with luxury brands — particularly Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, or vintage American movements — is a plus
• A demonstrated ability to learn on the job
• A passion for watches and excellence in service
• Ability to be customer facing as needed
• Work schedule: [Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM]

Why A&B

We're building the kind of shop watchmakers actually want to work in: real service work on real movements, turnaround times set by the watch rather than a quota, and direct relationships with the people who own the pieces. We have been around for over 70 years and still constantly improving.

The Company reserves the right to alter or amend an employee's job responsibilities at any time based on the needs of the business. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons shall have the opportunity to be considered for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, gender, veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. If you require alternative methods of application or screening, you must approach the employer directly to request this.

Pay: [$25.00 – $38.00 per hour] Work location: In person — 29 E Madison St Ste 1407, Chicago, IL 60602

Pay: $25.39 - $35.58 per hour

Work Location: In person