Occupation

Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

Human Advantage 59%

Moderate human-AI collaboration

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.6 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Perform precision assembling or adjusting, within narrow tolerances, of timing devices such as digital clocks or timing devices with electrical or electronic components.

Also Known As: Adjuster, Assembler, Balance and Hairspring Assembler, Banking Pin Adjuster, Barrel Assembler, Barrel Bridge Assembler, Barrel Endshake Adjuster, Calibration Specialist +36 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Assemble and install components of timepieces to complete mechanisms, using watchmakers' tools and loupes.
  2. Observe operation of timepiece parts and subassemblies to determine accuracy of movement, and to diagnose causes of defects.
  3. Test operation and fit of timepiece parts and subassemblies, using electronic testing equipment, tweezers, watchmakers' tools, and loupes.
  4. Replace specified parts to repair malfunctioning timepieces, using watchmakers' tools, loupes, and holding fixtures.
  5. Disassemble timepieces such as watches, clocks, and chronometers so that repairs can be made.
  6. Clean and lubricate timepiece parts and assemblies, using solvents, buff sticks, and oil.
  7. Examine components of timepieces such as watches, clocks, or chronometers for defects, using loupes or microscopes.
  8. Bend parts, such as hairsprings, pallets, barrel covers, and bridges, to correct deficiencies in truing or endshake, using tweezers.

Supplemental Tasks (9)

  1. Change timing weights on balance wheels to correct deficient timing.
  2. Adjust sizes or positioning of timepiece parts to achieve specified fit or function, using calipers, fixtures, and loupes.
  3. Mount hairsprings and balance wheel assemblies between jaws of truing calipers.
  4. Estimate spaces between collets and first inner coils to determine if spaces are within acceptable limits.
  5. Bend inner coils of springs away from or toward collets, using tweezers, to locate centers of collets in centers of springs, and to correct errors resulting from faulty colleting of coils.
  6. Turn wheels of calipers and examine springs, using loupes, to determine if center coils appear as perfect circles.
  7. Examine and adjust hairspring assemblies to ensure horizontal and circular alignment of hairsprings, using calipers, loupes, and watchmakers' tools.
  8. Review blueprints, sketches, or work orders to gather information about tasks to be completed.
  9. Tighten or replace loose jewels, using watchmakers' tools.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
91%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
4%
Less than a High School Diploma
2%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
1%
Some College Courses
1%

Technology & Tools

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Software (6)

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Tools & Equipment (96)

  • Abrasive wheels
  • Angled feeler gauges
  • Anti-electrostatic coating machines
  • Artists' brushes
  • Automatic engraving machines
  • Automatic oil dispensers
  • Automatic turning machines
  • Band notching pliers
  • Bench grinders
  • Bench ovens
  • Bench polishing machines
  • Buck saws
  • Bunsen burners
  • Burnishing wheels
  • C clamps
  • Case opening tools
  • Cast-iron laps
  • Clamp-on ammeters
  • Colleting tools
  • Computerized scales
  • Coordinate measuring machines CMM
  • Deburring tools
  • Demagnetizing equipment
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • Dial indicators
  • Digital calipers
  • Digital micrometers
  • Digital voltmeters DVM
  • Electric soldering irons
  • Electronic comparators
  • Electronic torque testers
  • Facing machines
  • Flat hand-held files
  • Flat nose pliers
  • Glass bevelers
  • Glue dispensers
  • Go/no-go gauges
  • Grinding machines
  • Hand punches
  • Hand reamers
  • Hardness testing devices
  • Heat lamps
  • Holding tools
  • Horizontal boring bars
  • Horizontal drill presses
  • Horizontal tapping machines
  • Industrial shears
  • Inspection loupes
  • Inspection microscopes
  • Jig boring machines
  • Lapping machines
  • Lead-tin laps
  • Level protractors
  • Link removal tools
  • Magnetic tweezers
  • Materials conveyors
  • Millimeter gauges
  • Mini picks
  • Modelmakers' lathes
  • Needlenose pliers
  • Non-conductive tweezers
  • Oilers
  • Personal computers
  • Pin vises
  • Plug gauges
  • Pneumatic screwdrivers
  • Poising calipers
  • Polishing wheels
  • Portable air compressors
  • Pressure testers
  • Punch sets
  • Radius files
  • Riveting hammers
  • Rubber mallets
  • Screw presses
  • Semi-automatic boring machines
  • Semi-automatic chamfering machines
  • Semi-automatic drilling machines
  • Semi-automatic planing machines
  • Semi-automatic tapping machines
  • Semi-automatic turning machines
  • Sensitive drill presses
  • Soldering machines
  • Spring balance scales
  • Spring bar tools
  • Stamping tools
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Straightedges
  • Swiss-type automatic screwing machines
  • Test lights
  • Vacuum testers
  • Vernier height gauges
  • Vertical drill presses
  • Vertical milling machines
  • Watchmaking pliers
  • Water jet cutters

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Engineering Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters You are here
Zone 4
Chemists 76% match

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