FAQ – Frequently asked questions

What is Ancré Academy?

• Ancré Academy is a watchmaking school offering a professional training path to become a watchmaker.

Who are Ancré watchmaking courses for?

• Ancré Academy watchmaking courses are for anyone who intends to pursue a professional career as a watchmaker, regardless of technical background.

Do I need experience to start a watchmaking course?

• Absolutely not. Ancré Academy offers a specific course for candidates with no experience at all.

Can I attend the course even if I am starting from zero?

• Certainly. Ancré Academy is designed to provide training for anyone who wants to become a professional watchmaker from scratch.

Are the courses also suitable for collectors or enthusiasts?

• Yes. Ancré Academy also offers seminars and Open Day workshops for enthusiasts and collectors.
• Seminars and workshops have limited places. Check the available dates for our Enthusiast Course or contact us for more information. Become a watchmaker for a day!

What is the difference between the Beginner, Professional and Master courses?

• The courses are diversified according to the candidate’s level.
• The Beginner Course is for those starting with no watchmaking experience.
• The Professional Course is for those who have completed the Beginner Course or already have basic training and want to learn professional mechanical watchmaking.
• The Master Course is for professionals who want to raise their level on specific calibres or prepare for certification exams.

How long does a watchmaking course last?

• The duration varies by level.
• The Beginner Course lasts 8 weeks with a central break week.
• The Professional Course lasts 4 weeks.
• The Master Course duration is customized according to the instruction provided.

How many practical hours are included?

• All Ancré Academy watchmaking courses teach theory during practice.
• The courses are 100% practical; theory is delivered step by step during the lesson.

Are the courses theoretical or mainly practical?

• They are 100% practical.
• At Ancré Academy, theory becomes important when it is put into practice, which is why our courses focus mainly on direct experience on the watch movement.

How many students take part in each course?

• The Ancré Academy training room has six individual workbenches.
• Courses can therefore range from a minimum of one person to a maximum of six at a time.

In what order should the courses be taken?

• The courses are designed as a progressive path: Beginner, then Professional, then Master.
• If the candidate already has watchmaking skills, after instructor assessment they may choose the starting course best suited to their level.

Can I enrol directly in the Professional or Master Course?

• Yes. If the candidate has previous experience, after assessment with the instructor they may enrol directly in the Professional or Master Course according to their needs.

What skills are acquired in the Beginner Course?

• At the end of the Beginner Course, participants will be able to perform basic operations independently and carry out simple servicing on quartz watches.

What do you learn in the Professional mechanical servicing course?

• At the end of the Professional Course, the candidate will be able to perform complete mechanical servicing independently on ETA 6497/6498 (ex Unitas), ETA 2824, ETA 2892 and ETA 7750 (ex Valjoux) calibres.

Which calibres are studied in the Master Course?

• The Master Course is designed to refine skills on any specific calibre.
• The instructor may decline the request if the calibre is outside his area of expertise.

Do the courses allow you to become a professional watchmaker?

• Yes. Ancré Academy courses aim to train candidates so they can carry out the work of a watchmaker independently and professionally.

Does the course issue a certificate or certification?

• At the end of each Ancré Academy course, a certificate of attendance is issued.
• Ancré Academy does not issue official certifications, but prepares candidates to take official certification exams.

Can I work as a watchmaker after the course?

• Yes. At the end of our watchmaking courses, candidates will be able to work independently and professionally as watchmakers.

Do the courses include practice on real movements?

• Yes. Ancré Academy watchmaking courses are carried out exclusively on real movements.

Are Swiss movements used during training?

• Yes. All Ancré Academy courses include the use of Swiss calibres.

How do I enrol in a watchmaking course?

• To enrol in any Ancré Academy course, complete the contact form on the course page or contact the academy directly through the available website or social media channels.

When do courses start during the year?

• Ancré Academy courses are repeated several times during the year.
• Visit the course section of the website for currently available dates.

How many places are available for each course?

• The training room has six individual workbenches, so courses range from a minimum of one person to a maximum of six at a time.

Is there a waiting list for courses?

• Yes. If there is no place on the first available course, Ancré Academy staff will place the candidate on the next available course.

How much do Ancré Academy courses cost?

• Costs vary according to the type of course.
• To receive an estimate, contact the academy through the forms on the website or through social media.

Can I pay in instalments?

• Yes. Ancré Academy has agreements with PayPal and Compass, which offer the possibility to pay course costs in instalments.

Are discounts or promotions available?

• Ancré Academy currently does not offer discounts or promotions.

Can I visit the school before enrolling?

• Yes. Ancré Academy provides an individual on-site or online interview before enrolment.
• If the candidate wishes, an appointment can be arranged to visit the facility.

Where are Ancré Academy courses held?

• Courses are held at our premises in Marano Vicentino, in the province of Vicenza, Italy.
• Ancré also offers the possibility to hold external courses at your premises on request.

How can I reach Ancré?

• The Thiene motorway exit is five minutes by car from Ancré.
• Marano Vicentino has a railway station connected to nearby Schio and Thiene.
• It is also connected by bus to Schio, Thiene and Bassano.
• Venice airport is about one hour by car and can also be reached by train
• Convenient links to Venice and Treviso airports

Are the courses in person or online?

• Ancré Academy’s philosophy is not to hold online courses. We believe that watchmaking, being a highly manual profession, requires exclusively in-person training to guarantee maximum quality.

How much study time is required outside the course?

• Courses are designed to be completed within the lessons and do not include homework or handouts to study externally.
• Personal initiatives for further theoretical study are appreciated but remain entirely at the participant’s discretion.

Are tools provided?

• Individual workstations at Ancré Academy include all basic tools needed for the courses.
• Candidates who want to use their own equipment may do so after suitability has been checked by the instructor.

Can students bring their own tools?

• Yes, provided they pass a suitability check by the instructor.

Is accommodation available near the school?

• Ancré Academy has built a network of collaborations with local businesses to guarantee participants a comfortable stay during the courses, including accommodation, lunch break and access to services such as hairdressers, beauticians and laundries.

How do you become a watchmaker in Italy?

• Ancré Academy courses prepare candidates to work independently in Italy.
• To complete the path toward official certifications, candidates must decide independently which route to take by contacting the manufacturers of interest directly.

How much does a watchmaker earn?

• As in any profession, income ranges vary according to personal preparation, specialization and experience.
• It is not possible to give a certain answer, but the watchmaking sector is growing and, as such a particular niche profession, earning margins are expected to increase over time.

How long does it take to learn watchmaking?

• The world of watchmaking is constantly evolving, so continuous training and constant updates are necessary.

Is watchmaking difficult to learn?

• The watchmaker’s craft requires meticulous precision, technical knowledge, good manual skills and above all passion.
• If the candidate has these qualities, the craft becomes not only simple but also enjoyable and rewarding.

What skills are needed to become a watchmaker?

• Meticulous precision, technical knowledge, good manual skills and passion are essential.
• key skill is the awareness that one must always keep learning.

Is watchmaking still a sought-after profession?

• The luxury watchmaking sector is expanding continuously and demand for professionals is increasing.

Is it worth becoming a watchmaker today?

• With the right amount of passion, skills and entrepreneurial ability, this profession can offer great satisfaction, including financially.

What does a watchmaker do?

• A watchmaker is someone who repairs and performs maintenance inside a watch.
• There are several types: repair watchmaker, construction watchmaker, restoration watchmaker and assembly watchmaker.

What type of watches does Ancré Lab repair?

• Ancré Lab is a multi-brand workshop specialized in luxury watchmaking.
• At the technician’s discretion, it can perform complete work on any prestigious watch.

Do you repair automatic and mechanical watches?

• Yes. Ancré Lab repairs and services manual mechanical and automatic watches.
• Our specialized technician can work on complications up to tourbillon level.

Can a luxury watch be serviced?

• Certainly. To keep a luxury watch in perfect condition, constant maintenance and servicing are necessary.
• Ancré Lab performs mechanical servicing and maintenance on luxury watches daily.

How much does a watch service cost?

• There is no fixed answer. Every intervention must be calculated individually and costs may vary according to the type of watch, complications, work required and above all the damage present.

How long does a complete service take?

• There is no fixed answer. Every intervention is calculated individually and timing varies according to the type of watch, complications, work required and damage present.

Do you also perform cosmetic restoration?

• Ancré Lab does not perform cosmetic restoration in-house. To guarantee maximum quality in this area, it relies on renowned and experienced professionals.

Do you repair chronographs and complications?

• Yes. Ancré Lab’s technician is certified and specialized on some of the most famous chronograph and complicated calibres on the market.

Do you use original spare parts?

• Yes. In watch repair, non-original spare parts should not be used.
• Where the market allows it, Ancré Lab uses only original spare parts.
• If a spare part is unavailable, Ancré Lab uses its collaboration network and contacts manufacturers directly.

Can I ship my watch for repair?

• Yes. Ancré Lab offers collection and delivery services through couriers and valuables couriers.

Do you provide an estimate before repair?

• Yes. Every watch delivered to Ancré Lab is first inspected in all its components. Once the inspection is complete, a precise estimate is prepared and must then be accepted by the customer.

Does servicing include movement regulation?

• Yes. Adjusting movement parameters is a fundamental step in mechanical servicing.
• Ancré Lab regulates movements according to the strict parameters imposed by manufacturers.

Do you offer a warranty on repairs?

• Yes. Ancré Lab offers a 12- or 24-month warranty depending on the type of watch repaired.

What experience does the founder of Ancré have?

• Marco Dalle Molle, founder and creator of the Ancré project, has over ten years of experience in luxury watchmaking as a certified and specialized repair watchmaker.

Why choose Ancré to learn watchmaking?

• Marco Dalle Molle, instructor and certified specialized technician, uses his experience and official qualifications to guarantee the highest possible level of professionalism and quality.
• Ancré prepares, trains, and develops the modern watchmaker, equipping students with the skills needed to meet the growing demand for qualified professionals. By combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, our graduates are able to work independently, efficiently, and to the highest certified professional standards.
• Ancré represents a new approach to watchmaking education. We teach what the industry has long been reluctant to acknowledge: the world has changed, and watchmakers must evolve with it. Timepieces are becoming increasingly sophisticated, delicate, and technically complex. Materials continue to advance, and, above all, customers are more informed and more demanding than ever before.
• Ancré’s watchmaking courses are designed to guide every student through a structured learning journey, with the flexibility to choose the level that best matches their experience and goals.
• Our courses provide the technical expertise required for the repair and servicing of mechanical and automatic watches, preparing both aspiring and experienced watchmakers with the practical skills and solid professional foundation needed to succeed in today’s watchmaking industry

What is Ancré’s teaching philosophy?

• Ancré was created to give people of any gender, ethnicity, language and nationality the possibility to become 100% watchmakers.
• Our goal is to provide the tools necessary to transform this remarkable passion into concrete and productive work.
• For us, watchmaking is a concrete, accessible and deeply human craft.
• This is how we live and teach the art of watchmaking: with mindful focus, respect for time and the instruments that measure it, regardless of their value, and deep respect for people and for craftsmanship carried out to the highest standards.

Can I visit the Ancré workshop?

• No. To guarantee the highest level of calm, order and cleanliness required for this level of work, the Ancré Lab workshop is closed to the public. Only authorized technicians may enter, so they can work without distractions.

Does Ancré offer internships or collaboration opportunities?

• Ancré Academy is in constant contact with watchmaking workshops and shops with internal workshops throughout Italy. If external companies request trainees or apprentices, Ancré will help candidates with possible placement.