Reply With QuoteCongratulations, I'm delighted to hear your good news! Wish you every success in your new role!
As some of you may recall I was made redundant nearly 18 months ago. Since then I've been doing bits of freelance work, trying to find a job and retraining to do something different - my plan B - as I was becoming increasingly disillusioned with my previous profession (art director/designer).
So why the chuffin' 'ell is this in Watch Talk I hear you cry? Well my plan B worked out and I've been offered a job at Bremont as an Assembler/Watchmaker.
This started as a bit of a flight of fancy if I'm honest. I've always been fascinated with watches and had a pretty substantial collection but had no idea if I had the skills required to actually work on them. Step forward my local watchmaker Rocco who very kindly invited me into his workshop to see if I had the dexterity, eye for detail, patience and any ability to learn. In his words "there's only way to find out and that's to give it a try". Luckily for me a lot of the skills required were transferable from my old profession.
Since that initial try out session I've been tutored by Rocco every Saturday and have tried to learn as much as possible, from battery changes through to servicing and refinishing. It has to be said Rocco is a fantastic teacher, with a huge skill and knowledge base plus bags of patience (just as well). I feel really privileged to have been lucky enough to be taken under his wing and owe him a huge debt of gratitude.
He also knows Bremont pretty well having done some assembly work for them and a former employee of his (Antony) now works for them. When Antony mentioned that Bremont might be looking for staff in the near future and that I would be a good fit, I jumped at the chance.
Fast forward to February 14th I went to Bremonts new HQ and did a bench test. I was as nervous as hell as, by this time, I knew this is what I really wanted to do, so had an awful lot riding on the result. The guys there really put me at my ease and it was a very friendly and informal process. Having said that they gave me their second most complicated watch to put together, an ALT1-Z with seven hands! I must admit when they gave me the container of parts I did think 'what the hell am I supposed to do with that lot then', lol! However once I got over that the watch went together well and passed scrutiny, phew!
So in the near future some of you unlucky chaps might well have a Bremont that's been made by me, as if their stock couldn't get any lower here, lol! Oh and don't worry I won't turn into a raving Bremont evangelist, that's definitely not my style.
A massive thanks to Rocco and all the guys at Watchworks, my wife for putting up with me, Bremont for giving me this opportunity and everyone here who bought a watch off me a year or so ago - the funds raised have supported me for the last 12 months and without which this would never have happened.
Cheers,
Gary
Last edited by Omegary; 3rd April 2013 at 16:24.
Congratulations, I'm delighted to hear your good news! Wish you every success in your new role!
Congratulations Gary. Very happy for you!
Awesome news! Many congrats!
What a great story. Really well done. Enjoy your new vocation.......how could you not?!
Dude, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!The very best of luck in your new profession really pleased for You.
You kept that one quiet :-) Rocco told me about his relationship with Bremont so its not too much of a surprise.
Well done!
Cracking news Gary, well done!
Awesome news! Congratulations and the very best of luck!
Hope it works for you, I chased a job for almost 10 years before I got it.
Some fantastic times were had doing what I really wanted to be doing.
Congratulations !
Wow, that's a great story and you should be proud! I look forward to your insight at Bremont over the next few months and you may even convert a few people. :)
Brilliant news!
When they asked if you had any questions during in the interview I presume your first was 'What's the staff discount?'
Congratulations great confidence boost, well done on all your hard work.
Well done Gary!
That's great to hear, and what a fantastic job it is if I may say so.
My local dealer in the Netherlands is a Bremont dealer, so if I want to have a limitid "Gary" edition I'll talk to him...........
Daddel.
Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!
Well done Gary!
It's been a pleasure to read your various 'Tales from the Bench.' From what I've seen I think Bremont are the lucky ones to gain someone with your obvious genuine passion and ability.
regards
jeff
that's really great news .... not many people get to mix work with an interest/passion ....hope it all works out well.
Fantastic news, congratulations. Rococo sounds like a diamond geezer too. Yes, I'm from London.
Gary, that is great news and I'm full of admiration for you. Enjoy your new career with Bremont.
Rod
Awesome result. Kudos for putting the effort into retraining.
Congrats - very pleased for you. It would be great to hear more tales from the bench whenever you have the time.
congratulations man that's cool
That's brilliant Gary, your dedication, love and enthusiasm for watches is so edvident in your posts & your work with members timepieces, congratulations mate that's amazing news & you could now be in the minority group of people that love going to the office ;)
congrats again
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+1Originally Posted by learningtofly
that's what i thought too
A superb result, well done for having the patience to learn something totally new, your willingness to adapt to a change of circumstances and now a great opportunity. I wish you well in your new endeavour
Perhaps some ways down the line there may be a Bremont-TZ LE?
Brilliant news mate!
Chuffed for you.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Fantastic news! Well done indeed.
Best post on the forum for a LONG time - well done, Gary, a fabulous result.
Cheers
Foggy
A truly inspiring tale. Proper glad all your effort has paid off
Congratulations, that's great to hear. Is there anything watches can't do? ;-)
Great stuff...not many of us are lucky enough to combine our hobby and our dayjob.
Best of luck!
Brilliant news Gary. Good luck in the new job.
Nice one.
Top tip: The orange adjuster lever on the Bremont office chairs does not do what you think it does, even if you provide the sound effects.
"Bite my shiny metal ass."
- Bender Bending Rodríguez
Superb news. The very best of British to you. : )
Brilliant news - congratulations and really well done. It does not get any better being able to turn your hobby into your job!!
Excellent news, I'm really pleased for you!
Now, down to business, what discount can you get from Bremont for forum members? ;)
That's excellent news, well done!
Maybe you could use your creative skills to design some better looking Bremonts?
"A man of little significance"
Well done Gary, well done.
As Gary lives quite near to me and we meet up on average once a fortnight, perhaps I can add that Gary has omitted quite a long and protracted recruitment, er, procedure, so his patience in watchmaking is mirrored by his patience in application.
The final result is proof of your abilities mate, I am sure you will run with it.
Dave
Gary that is brilliant news, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
Congratulations.
Nice to hear some good news for a change.
Mitch
That was a damned good story Gary - well done you, might now have really discovered your vocation !
Question is, will they allow you to retain your 'username' here on TZ ?
Cheers and very best in your new profession.
Peter
Great story & great result. Wish I had the same opportunity to combine something I love with my day job... one day... maybe.
Congratulations. In the words of Hannibal Smith, "I love it when a plan (b) comes together".
Excellent news,looking forward to more of your well informed posts.
Couldn't be happier for you Gary, congratulations and well done.
That's great news Gary.... huge congrats !!!!
Fantastic news, well done Gary.
Mate's rates for forum regulars? Lol
That's a fantastic story and a hugh thumbs-up to your pal giving you workshop time. My work oppo called me today and dropped the bombshell that he's moving on; couldn't be more pleased for him or for you, well done.
Wow congratulations Gary, a dream job for many of us. Well done on having having the balls to go though with a change of job.
Sounds like you've found the right job. Goodluck!
Gary,
Well done bud, really great news for you and i wish you well with the new venture,
Best,
James.
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