Work environment and ergonomics at the watchmaker's bench

Watchmaking looks calm and harmless and in many ways it is also one of the more gentle crafts. But precisely because the work is sedentary monotonous and requires high concentration close to small items it strains the body in a quiet way. Good working conditions here are about avoiding the damage that builds up over years.

§Vision is your most important tool

You work with parts that sometimes are the size of a grain of sand. Therefore you use a magnifying glass and magnification for much of the working day, and your eyes work hard. Take breaks where you look at something far away so your eye muscles relax, and make sure your magnifying glass and distance suit your eyes exactly. If your eyes get tired every day, it is a signal you should take seriously.

§Lighting

Good lighting is essential, both for the quality of your work and for your eyes. The light must be bright enough to see details, but it must not glare or create sharp shadows that obscure what you're working with. A combination of good general lighting in the room and an adjustable work lamp at the bench is typically the best.

§Posture and ergonomics

The classic watchmaker posture — bent forward over the bench for hours — is hard on the neck, shoulders and back. Arrange your workplace so you can sit with a straight back, supported elbows and the bench at the right height. Many watchmaker benches are higher than regular desks precisely so you don't have to bend so far forward.

• 01Adjust chair and bench so elbows and forearms are supported
• 02Keep screen, magnifier and item at a height that doesn't force the neck forward
• 03Change position and stand up at regular intervals
• 04Perform skin analysis under magnifying lamp

§Hands and fine motor skills

Your hands, along with your eyes, are the trade's most important tool. Repeated fine movements can cause strain injuries over time if you don't alternate between tasks and give your hands breaks. Tools with good grips and a workplace where you don't have to tense your hand unnecessarily help you keep your fine motor skills sharp throughout a long working life.

§Chemistry and physical impacts

Although you do not work with heavy machines you come into contact with cleaning agents oils and glues. Some of these substances require you to use extraction gloves or other protective equipment and some require a legally required course before you may work with them. Always read the safety data sheet and use the proper protection — even if the amounts are small.

A good working environment at the bench is therefore not about rare major accidents but about the many small choices every day. If you take them seriously from your first apprenticeship year both eyes back and hands last far better over the many years a watchmaker's life can last.