TS 12623

TS 12623 is a vocational standard for the watch repairer occupation. It defines the profession and the people who perform it, and addresses its classification, the tools and equipment used, and the characteristics expected from each level of practitioner together with how those characteristics are assessed. In general technical terms, watch repair is a precision service area involving inspection, fault diagnosis, part replacement, adjustment and reassembly of timekeeping mechanisms.

What the occupation covers in practice

The standard situates watch repair as a technical occupation rather than a purely manual trade. Watches contain compact mechanisms that demand careful handling, accurate measurement and a disciplined workflow. From a general engineering perspective, mechanical watches rely on gear trains and energy transfer, while quartz watches depend on a battery, electronic circuitry and a movement unit. Recognising these differences is central to understanding why repair work requires both fine mechanical skill and the ability to identify the source of a malfunction correctly.

Classification and evaluation of competence

Because the standard also covers qualifications and evaluation criteria, it supports a common framework for comparing competence across different levels of watch repair work. Such vocational standards are often used to align training, workplace expectations and assessment language. In that sense, TS 12623 provides a structured vocabulary for the occupation: what the job is, what equipment it typically involves, and what professional attributes are expected.

• Definition and classification of the watch repairer occupation
• Tools, instruments and equipment used in the trade
• Required attributes at different occupational levels
• Criteria for evaluating those attributes