Mégane
Watchmaking Apprentice Artisan

To ensure the future of the watchmaking profession, Chopard offers young people the most comprehensive four-year training available: that of a watchmaker with a CFC (Federal Certificate of Capacity). Over and above the basic requirements, the Geneva Watchmaking School programme includes studying a movement that powers the "graduation project watch", developed by the Manufacture in 2010. Once they have earned their diploma, some graduates are lucky enough to be hired by the Maison. That is indeed what Mégane, a 19-year-old watchmaker, wishes.

This forward-looking commitment is nothing new at Chopard: the Manufacture began training jewellers in the 1980s, and watchmakers in Geneva from 1988 onwards. Having already done a discovery internship in watchmaking at Chopard, Mégane began her apprenticeship in 2018 at the age of 15, just after the 11th year of vocational middle school. During the four years of the apprenticeship, students are taught how to assemble movements, repair them, lubricate them and check them, starting with making some of the tools that they will use throughout their training and career. Students are also integrated into several departments of the Maison for an internship right from the first year.

Throughout the entire training period, apprentices work on a “graduation project watch” which they are allowed to keep at the end of their course. This special model with a white dial represents the masterpiece of each apprentice, engraved with their name and the year in which they complete it. After undergoing COSC testing to earn chronometer certification, it is officially presented to individual graduates by Karl Friedrich Scheufele. This is an important moment for every apprentice, as well as for the Co-President of Chopard, who is deeply attached to the continuity of expertise.

Chopard takes training far beyond what is generally required, which is doubtless why apprentice artisans seek to make a career with the Maison. This is what it takes to guarantee the continuity of watchmaking and jewellery.
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Karl-Friedrich Scheufele