Adelaide Watch Repairs
 
 

Hey, I’m Oliver.

In 2011, I started watch repairing on a whim, and I haven’t looked back since. I began a four-year apprenticeship with established Lewis Watch and Clock Makers in Coffs Harbour, NSW. I worked on battery operated and mechanical watches, learning how to take them apart and piece them together again. During this time, I also undertook service work for several Swiss watch brands. Over the course of my apprenticeship, my passion for watch repairing and service grew, and I began setting my sights further.

After I finished my apprenticeship in Coffs Harbour, I moved to Adelaide and began working for Birkett Watches. I serviced thousands of vintage watches, new watches, and everything in between, broadening my knowledge and gaining vital experience for a career in watchmaking.

In September 2016, I started studying to complete the American Watch and Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) watchmaking qualification CW21, which I finished in late 2017. I met a variety of American watchmakers and attended the AWCI National Conference. In May 2017, I studied at the British Horological Institute and achieved Member of British Horological Institute status. After completing my exams, I toured workshops and watchmakers across Switzerland, Germany and Austria, and spent time with many established international brands, learning their well-respected servicing, repairs and restoration techniques.

The quality of education, breadth of knowledge, and hands-on training I received has granted me a strong horological foundation, equipping me with tangible skills and experience to take on both simple and complicated watch work. In September 2019, I established my own watch repair well-taken, OBR Horology, and began servicing watches across Adelaide.

I have a passion for repairing mechanical watches, treating and using traditional horological finishing techniques. I am fond of vintage watches, and have been lucky enough to work on well loved and pristine classics.

- Oliver Broos Revitt

 
 

Accreditations.

Professional Development

  • AWCI National Convention 2016

  • High-end Horological Decoration and Finishing, K&H Watchmaking Competence Centre, 2016.
    Black polishing, straight graining, sablage, frosting

  • Chronograph Study, AWCI, 2017

  • Traditional Guilloché Training, Jochen Benzinger, 2017-2018

  • In-house training on repairs, restoration and servicing with the following watchmakers:
    Sinn, Jochen Benzinger, Mühle-Glashütte, D. Dornblüth & Sohn, Armin Strom, Habring, Kudoke

Professional Memberships

  • Watch and Clockmakers of Australia (WCA)

  • British Horological Institute (BHI)

  • American Watch and Clockmakers Institute (AWCI)

Education

  • Cert III - Watch and Clock Repair, Sydney TAFE (Apprenticeship) 2011 - 2013

  • MBHI, British Horological Institute, 2017

  • CW21, American Watch and Clockmakers Institute, 2016-2017

Awards

  • Second place ranking nationally, Sydney TAFE (Apprenticeship) 2011-2013

  • Best Serviced Automatic Watch, MBHI British Horological Institute, 2017

Publications

  • The Horological Times (published by AWCI), December 2017, January 2018 & September 2019

  • Watch and Clock makers Association Australia, September 2019

 
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Hi, I’m James.

I began my watchmaking career in September 2022. After finishing high school, unsure of where to go next, I fell into the field of signage and found an apprenticeship at 15. As I worked in many signage businesses over the last 10 years, I grew my skills in design, gained an essential eye for detail and critical thinking skills.

At the end of 2021, I felt burnt out in the signage industry. I quit completely and enrolled in TAFE SA to study sound design, driven by a lifelong passion for music and music production. During that time, I considered what my next path in life would be. Although I enjoyed sound design, I knew early on it wasn’t the right fit for me. I wanted to build a career in something I was passionate about, so I turned to what I loved doing as a child.

I always enjoyed tinkering and building small models, and held a keen interest in NASA’s Apollo missions, with the Omega Speedmaster (as worn by the Apollo crews) catching my eye. I asked on a forum about learning watchmaking in Adelaide, and found my first friendship with an Adelaide watchmaker. He introduced me to a few watchmakers around the city, and I met Oliver. After expressing my strong interest in watchmaking, I showed how I rebuilt a few watches at home on my own. Over the next two months, Oliver kindly let me learn from him directly in the shop. I practiced there every day, full time, and under Oliver’s mentorship, I quickly gained skills, much faster than I had at home on my own, and found the patience required for watchmaking.

After two and a half months of mentorship, Oliver offered me an apprenticeship, which I gladly accepted. Now, as an apprentice, my goals are to gain further knowledge in horology and watchmaking, find great friendships with other watchmakers in Adelaide to build my skills and learn from those before me. Also, I would like to follow in Oliver’s path by completing a tour of European watchmakers, and one day own an Omega Speedmaster.

- James Seal