ETA Watchmaker Apprentice – Production
- Location
- Villeret Bern Switzerland
- Employment
- Apprenticeship
- Seniority
- Intern
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Aug 18, 2026
About ETA
ETA is a benchmark of Swiss horological expertise, renowned for designing and producing precision movements that power many of the world’s most respected watches. As part of the Swatch Group, the manufacture combines industrial excellence, technical innovation, and a deep respect for traditional watchmaking savoir-faire. As an employer, ETA offers a highly specialized environment where engineers, micromechanics, technicians, and operational talents contribute to products defined by reliability, accuracy, and refinement. The company values discipline, craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and collaborative expertise, providing careers at the heart of Switzerland’s watchmaking ecosystem and the future of mechanical and quartz movement technology.
ETA SA, part of the Swatch Group and one of the world's largest watch manufacturers, seeks a motivated apprentice watchmaker for a three-year federally certified (CFC) programme. The apprentice will assemble mechanical and electronic watch movements, chronographs, and completed watches while performing rigorous quality control throughout the production process. The role bridges industrial production and customer service, requiring assembly of watch dials, hands, and movements within cases, testing of finished mechanisms using various measurement and control methods, and partial fabrication of tools and equipment required for assembly.
Role & Responsibilities
- Assemble mechanical and electronic watch movements and chronographs according to precision specifications
- Perform quality control inspections to detect and correct aesthetic defects, malfunctions, and failures at each production stage
- Install watch dials, hands, and movements within watch cases
- Conduct functional testing of completed watches using standardized measurement and control methods
- Identify root causes of defects and implement corrective measures
- Fabricate and maintain basic tools and equipment required for movement and case assembly
- Maintain high quality standards throughout all production stages
- Support customer service operations requiring watchmaking expertise
Qualifications
- Certificate of Federal Competence (CFC) in Watchmaking – Production upon completion of three-year apprenticeship
- Intermediate level education (Degree moyen) or secondary level with very good grades
- Strong spatial reasoning and attention to detail for complex mechanical assembly
- Ability to work with precision instruments and measurement tools
Skills
Experience
No prior experience required; this is an entry-level apprenticeship position.
Education
Intermediate level education (Degré moyen) with very good grades, or secondary level education equivalent.
Workplace
The role is situated in Villeret, Bern, Switzerland — conveniently close to Biel.
Culture
ETA offers a workplace culture rooted in Swiss precision, technical mastery, and continuous innovation within the watchmaking industry. As an employer, it fosters collaboration between engineers, artisans, and production specialists, valuing reliability, quality, and the transmission of specialized expertise across generations.
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 ETA, 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 «Horological Apprentice», «Production Watchmaking Apprentice», «Mechanical Watch Assembly Apprentice», «Watch Movement Apprentice», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.