Have you ever wanted to try your hand at watchmaking?

Tom Austin

For plenty of enthusiasts, the fascination with mechanical watches starts with what’s visible through the caseback. The bridges, gears and balance wheel all work together in a way that feels almost magical, but very few collectors ever get the opportunity to see how it all comes together firsthand. Later this year, that opportunity is coming to the Time+Tide Discovery Studio in Melbourne.

From October 30 to November 1, we’ll be hosting the Horological Society of New York’s travelling education programme, giving enthusiasts the chance to spend four hours learning directly from professional watchmakers. Whether you’re a seasoned collector who’s always wanted to understand the mechanics behind your favourite pieces, or someone who is simply curious about how a mechanical movement actually works, these classes are designed to provide an accessible introduction to the craft.

Founded in 1866, the Horological Society of New York is one of the world’s oldest watchmaking organisations and a nonprofit dedicated to advancing horological education. Its travelling classes have introduced thousands of students to the fundamentals of mechanical watchmaking, combining expert instruction with genuine hands-on experience.

Rather than simply watching demonstrations, every participant will work on a real mechanical watch movement throughout the session. Under the guidance of HSNY’s professional watchmakers, students will construct and deconstruct the movement while exploring the gear train, winding and setting mechanisms, and the escapement. Over the course of four hours, the class brings together material from three separate courses normally taught at the Society’s New York headquarters, making it an immersive introduction to mechanical watchmaking in a single session.

No prior watchmaking experience is required, and the classes are designed to be accessible to enthusiasts of all experience levels. If you’ve ever wondered what happens beneath the dial, wanted a deeper appreciation for the engineering behind your collection, or simply fancied trying something completely different, this is a rare opportunity to get hands-on with the inner workings of a mechanical watch.

The Horological Society of New York’s Melbourne classes will take place at the Time+Tide Discovery Studio, Level 1, 178 Collins Street, Melbourne, across the following sessions:

* Friday, October 30 — 17:00
* Saturday, October 31 — 17:00
* Sunday, November 1 — 09:00
* Sunday, November 1 — 14:30

Places are limited, and enrolment is already open. If you’ve ever wanted to move beyond simply wearing mechanical watches and experience what it takes to make one tick, this is an opportunity that’s well worth taking.