At Weiss Watch Company, we recently hosted another Q&A session, giving our community a chance to ask some in-depth questions about watchmaking, products, and the future of our brand. This session allowed us to dive deeper into topics than Instagram might allow, and I’m thrilled to share some of the highlights.
Keep an eye on our Instagram for the next Q&A announcement, so you can get your questions in as well!
Five-Year Goals
A big question on many minds was: What are your five-year goals? For me, this is always a tough one because I tend to focus on both short-term tasks and long-term aspirations beyond the five-year mark. One of my main goals is to build something that will outlast me—something like the brands I admire, such as Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin. Their founders are long gone, but their legacy lives on.
My dream is to contribute to American watchmaking by preserving the history and knowledge of mechanical timepieces. In five years, I’d love to see more growth in American watchmaking, but I believe we need at least 5–10 years before "U.S.-made" truly holds weight in the global watch industry.
GMT Watches
A popular question was whether I have any plans to release a GMT watch. The GMT complication, which tracks two time zones, is something I personally enjoy. While there’s nothing solid planned for a GMT watch at Weiss yet, it’s definitely on my radar. GMTs are extremely useful, and I own a few in my private collection that I truly love.
When to Service Your Watch
I received a question from a customer who owns a 2017 Standard Issue Field Watch, wondering when it should be serviced. Typically, manual-wind watches require less frequent service than automatics, but as a rule of thumb, you should consider servicing every 5 years. If you wear your watch daily and expose it to water, it's a good idea to service it even more frequently—perhaps every 3 years, especially to replace the gaskets that ensure water resistance.
Watchmaking as a Career
I’m often asked about getting into watchmaking as a profession. One question this time was: How much can a watchmaker make? Salaries for watchmakers vary depending on experience and location. In a U.S. service center, starting pay might range from $40,000 to $50,000 a year. However, with brand-specific or complication training, salaries can increase significantly. Some high-level watchmakers can even command six-figure salaries, especially if they specialize in complex repairs or work for luxury brands.
A Tour of the Workshop
Another question came up about doing a tour of our workshop, specifically focused on the Caliber 1003 movement. This is the movement we produce here in the U.S., and it’s an incredibly intricate, time-consuming process. Yes, I’d love to offer a tour—perhaps broken into multiple episodes—to show the work that goes into creating these movements. Stay tuned for that!
Limited Edition Watches
I also got a question about releasing more Caliber 1003 watches. Since I make each of these movements by hand, production is limited. These watches often sell out before they even make it to the website. If you're interested, the best way to get one is to join our email list. When new watches are close to completion, we notify this list first.
Sustainability in Watchmaking
A thoughtful question came in about sustainability and environmental consciousness in the watch industry. Some companies are making efforts by using recycled materials, but my approach is different. I believe the best way to reduce waste is to create products that last. Mechanical watches, unlike quartz or tech-based watches, can be passed down through generations, keeping them out of landfills.
Watch Sizing and Design
Designing a watch involves balancing several factors, from style to technical constraints. For instance, if you're creating a sport watch with water resistance, you need thicker crystals and stronger parts, which can make the watch bulkier. On the other hand, a dress watch might be thinner and more elegant but lack some of the durability features of a sports watch. It’s always a balancing act, depending on the type of watch you want to create.
Closing Thoughts
Thank you all for your fantastic questions! We’ll try to do Q&A sessions more regularly, so stay tuned and be ready with your questions. If you have ideas for future episodes or more questions, feel free to leave them in the comments or reach out via email. I look forward to connecting with you again soon.
