CW21 Certified Watchmakers

Your watch is a valuable possession and its proper repair and restoration is important to us. Only a qualified watchmaker can be entrusted to work on the precise, delicate movement inside your watch. While WatchRepair.net takes watch repair seriously, the business of on-line watch repair necessitates some special considerations for the consumer.

What should a consumer consider when their valuable timepiece needs repair or restoration?

With the advent of the Internet, there seems to be an endless number of watch repair services online. A search of ‘watch repair’ returns hundreds of websites with claims of watch repair expertise. Thanks to the AWCI , (American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute) there is a simplified way to find a qualified watchmaker. Recently, the AWCI, in cooperation with some of the leading premium Swiss watch brands (Rolex, Omega, Breitling and others) created a new series of certifications with the highest and most stringent standards for watchmakers. The certification category for a watchmaker is identified as CW21.

The right watchmaker for your watch repair and restoration

The new standard is aimed at determining if a watchmaker possesses the superior skills and knowledge for servicing quality watches. The new standard also designates those watchmakers as having the highest level of skill applicable in the watch industry. With a formal certification standard in place, there are now 130 fully certified CW21 watchmakers in the United States. The CW21 certification denotes a qualified watchmaker with the skills to repair and restore your quality timepiece. Beyond the confidence that the CW21 designation gives you, there is an additional step you can take to ascertain the quality of your watch repair. Before entrusting your watch to anyone, make sure to ask them two very important questions:
  1. Does the person who will be performing the repairs on my Omega possess the CW-21 certification?
  2. Do you use only genuine Omega parts? If the answer is yes, then ask them if they are willing to put that fact in writing. If the answer is no, find a better watchmaker.