Watch and Clock Repairers

Repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks. Includes watchmakers, watch technicians, and mechanical timepiece repairers.

The occupation of "Watch and Clock Repairers" has an automation risk of 37.8%, which is only slightly below its base risk estimate of 38.3%. This moderate risk level reflects a balance between repetitive, rule-based tasks that are susceptible to automation and others that require more nuanced human skills. Many technical activities performed daily by these professionals involve manual dexterity, careful attention to detail, and specialized problem-solving—skills that are challenging, though not impossible, for current automation technologies to replicate fully. Among the most automatable tasks in this occupation are those that involve routine procedures or those that can already be performed by machines with minimal supervision. For example, cleaning, rinsing, and drying timepiece parts are often accomplished using specialized ultrasonic or mechanical machines. Similarly, tasks like adjusting timing regulators with precision instruments and reassembling timepieces—especially replacing glass faces and batteries—mainly involve systematic steps that can be standardized and potentially automated. These segments of the workflow are well-suited for automation due to their predictable and repetitive nature and the advent of advanced robotic systems designed for intricate assembly and adjustment tasks. Conversely, some aspects of watch and clock repair are relatively resistant to automation. Fabricating parts for watches and clocks using small lathes and other machines requires a high degree of originality, craftsmanship, and real-time decision-making that robots still struggle to match. Demagnetizing mechanisms, while a seemingly straightforward procedure, often requires diagnostic acumen and adaptability to various timepiece configurations. Furthermore, recording detailed documentation about repairs—including tracking serial numbers, types, and descriptions of work performed—benefits from human judgement and contextual understanding. The relatively low bottleneck skill score for Originality (2.6%) indicates that while some creative problem-solving is present, it does not pose a significant barrier to automation overall, further explaining the moderate risk percentage for this profession.