Audemars Piguet Polishing Operator
- Location
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Apr 23, 2026
About Audemars Piguet
A luxury maison operating in the watches and horology sector, the employer combines artisanal savoir-faire with industrial standards to deliver high-precision timepieces. The organisation emphasises craft-based production, rigorous quality control and a heritage-driven approach to finishing and restoration.
Confidential luxury employer in Besançon is recruiting a Polishing Operator (Opérateur/Polisseur CS) for its watches & horology atelier.
Role & Responsibilities
- Execute manual and machine polishing operations on metal components and finished cases to meet prescribed surface quality and aesthetic standards.
- Set up, adjust and operate polishing equipment (rotary polishers, tumblers, lathes, buffing wheels) and select appropriate abrasives and compounds.
- Perform visual and dimensional inspection of parts using magnification tools; document defects and reject or rework components according to quality procedures.
- Collaborate closely with repair/after-sales or production teams to restore customer items and ensure traceability of work through job tickets and software records.
- Maintain work area and equipment hygiene; perform routine maintenance and report technical issues to the maintenance team.
- Meet daily productivity and quality targets while complying with health, safety and waste-handling protocols.
Qualifications
- Proven experience in polishing, finishing or surface treatment within watchmaking, jewelry or precision metalwork (preferred 2–5 years).
- High level of manual dexterity and visual acuity; experience using loupes or microscopes for inspection.
- Familiarity with a range of polishing compounds, abrasives and buffing techniques for metals (steel, brass, precious alloys).
- Ability to interpret technical drawings and quality specifications and work to tight tolerances.
- Strong commitment to quality, patience and attention to cosmetic detail.
Skills
Experience
Mid-level professional with practical polishing/finishing experience in watchmaking, jewelry or precision metal fabrication; typically 2–5 years of hands-on work restoring and finishing small high-value components.
Education
Vocational diploma (CAP/BEP) in watchmaking, metalwork, jewellery-making or equivalent; completion of an apprenticeship in finishing or restoration considered an advantage.
Workplace
This position is based in Besançon, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France, within easy reach of Dijon.
Culture
The workplace prioritises craftsmanship, meticulous quality control and a calm, disciplined shop-floor culture typical of haute horlogerie ateliers. Teams value mentoring, incremental skill development and pride in restoring and finishing objects to the maison's exacting standards.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Audemars Piguet, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Finishing Operator (Polisher)», «Surface Finishing Technician», «Watch Polishing Technician», «Metal Polisher - Finishing Specialist», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.