I have always had a keen interest in watches and clocks and when I decided to pursue my passion as a career I decided to take the proper route and obtain the professional qualifications. I enrolled on a three year BHI Horology course at the Arden Centre, City College Manchester. While studying on this course I also worked as a watch and clock maker to a local retail jewellers. While studying the course I was awarded the BHI Manchester Branch Shield for Best achievement and the BHI Manchester Branch shield for Best Portfolio. I was also awarded the BHI Adrian Gates Bursary and the BHI David Seeley Bursary. On completion of the course I received my BHI Diploma.

I then attended the refresher course of the Watchmakers Of Switzerland Training and Education Program in Neuchatel, Switzerland. This is a six month advanced course in modern watch repairing for Swiss mechanical and electronic/quartz watches. I successfully completed the course and was awarded my WOSTEP Diploma. I have also attended quartz and AutoQuartz specific course’s in Switzerland by the Swiss movement manufacture ETA at the ETA Technical Training Centre in Grenchen.
I also completed a two day quartz specific course by the Swiss movement manufacture RONDA and have had the privilege to visit several large manufactures such as Rolex, Cartier, Audemars, Zenith and Jeager LeCoultre in Switzerland.
I returned from Switzerland in late December 1999 and decided to set up my own trade workshop in Oldham, Lanc’s. I run and managed this busy workshop, employing three other full time watch & clockmakers for five years. In 2003 I attained Rolex accreditation when I attended and successfully passed the Rolex Course at Rolex UK, Bexly.

In 2005 I joined the main workshop of The WatchLAB in Preston, Lanc’s. I was employed as their Senior Watchmaker which duties included the process, repair and administration of the workload from 10 busy retail branches.

In August 2006 I formed the Limited company “Time Repairs Limited” and formed a close working association with the prestigious Jewellers, Lepps Ltd. I established a new modern workshop within the Bury branch of Lepps Jewellers which as a Rolex retailer required me to repair their Rolex and other Prestige Swiss brands from thier three retail outlets. I continued to repair watches from my loyal and strong customer base via the post.

In 2011 I moved my workshop from the Bury branch of Lepps Jewellers and relocated it in the Falcon Centre, Chadderton Oldham. This bespoke, purpose built workshop has allowed me to continue as an independant watchmaker, taking postal repairs via the internet while also offering a personal and freindly service to my strong customer base in the Lancashire and Greater Manchester region.

Brian McDaid.