Cultivating world-class watch repair technicians. What is the LVMH Watches & Jewelry Watchmaking Academy?

On April 21, 2025, the opening ceremony for the LVMH Watches & Jewelry Watchmaking Academy, established by LVMH Watches & Jewelry Japan Co., Ltd., was held. The academy, whose mission is to "train world-class watch repair technicians," welcomed two young people as its inaugural class. Both will be employed as "full-time employees," rather than as students. What is the appeal of this academy, which was established as part of the LVMH Group's strategic initiative, and what are its future prospects? We explore this through the words of the three key people who were instrumental in opening the academy: Norbert Roullet, Julie Bourgeois, and Shigeru Hayashi.

LVMH Watches & Jewelry Watchmaking Academy to open in April 2025

　The LVMH Watches & Jewelry Watchmaking Academy (hereinafter referred to as the Academy), a watch repair technician training program run by LVMH Watches & Jewelry Japan Co., Ltd., opened in April 2025.

　The concept of this academy is "two years in which learning becomes your biggest job." While it functions as a technical school, what makes it unique is that recruits are hired as full-time employees rather than as students. Through two years of training, recruits will acquire the skills necessary to work as watch repair technicians.

　The LVMH Group's brands include prestigious brands that continue to release innovative watches, such as Bulgari, Hublot, Tag Heuer, and Zenith. The Academy is located in the same facility as these brands' customer service departments, providing an environment where trainees can observe the work of active engineers up close and develop their business acumen.

　Two young people, aged 18 and 19, were accepted as the academy's first class in its first year. The opening ceremony on April 21st was held under clear skies befitting a new beginning, and the event kicked off in a spectacular setting, with not only academy staff but also general managers and directors from each brand in attendance.

　Below we introduce, with a summary, the opening ceremony remarks made by Norbert Leuret, Managing Director of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Japan LLC, and Julie Bourgeois, Director and COO of LVMH Watch & Jewelry Japan Co., Ltd.

Speeches by Norbert Roullet and Julie Bourgeois

　At the opening ceremony, Norbert Leuret, Managing Director of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Japan LLC, gave a speech.

"Today marks an important day for us as we launch the LVMH Watches & Jewelry Watchmaking Academy. The concept for this Academy has been in the works for many years, and it is now complete as the ultimate place to pass on watchmaking know-how to the next generation. We place great emphasis on repairs and customer service in order to gain the trust of our customers, and we see training young technicians as a priority. Giving young people opportunities also means thinking about the future of the Watch & Jewelry industry."

　Luret then went on to explain the background to the launch of the academy.

"We place importance on protecting the work we absolutely must preserve - in other words, the craftsmanship of artisans and artists. Sometimes it's difficult to continue, but we believe that the culture of craftsmanship, created with ten fingers and two arms, is extremely important. Leather goods, clothing, and cosmetics are of course important, but watches are especially special. Many processes are done by hand, and precision machinery combines technology and design. In addition, many Japanese customers study watches thoroughly before purchasing one, and in order to support that culture, we wanted to preserve the tradition and status of watchmaking, so this academy was conceived many years ago."

　Rather than being just students, the students will be employed as full-time employees of LVMH Watch & Jewelry Japan Co., Ltd., and after completing the curriculum, they will be responsible for maintaining watches from various brands of the LVMH Group.

"In fact, we have similar training centers in the United States and Switzerland, and we are developing them in line with each market. In Japan, we are focusing particularly on mechanical watches, and have created a place where they can learn every detail. Starting today, two young people, aged 18 and 19, will begin their two-year training under experienced watchmakers. We hope that they will play an active role in the future at TAG Heuer and other LVMH Group brands. If they wish, they will also be able to work for other Group brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, and Chaumet. This academy is not just an educational institution. It is a place to learn skills and also a place to create innovation. We look forward to seeing new ideas emerge from these young people over the course of their two years of study."

　Next, Julie Bourgeois, Director and COO of LVMH Watch & Jewelry Japan Co., Ltd. and the initiator of the academy's opening, spoke about the academy's objectives and thoughts.

"We are committed to nurturing the next generation of young leaders. The Academy is a concrete example of this commitment. We are investing in young people with great potential to hone their skills and develop into fully-fledged watchmakers through a two-year program. The LVMH Group believes it has a responsibility to nurture and promote the industry through education and innovation. We hope that this Academy will also equip young people with the expertise they need to progress step by step into the watchmaking industry. We have no doubt that your contributions, knowledge and fresh perspectives will enrich the future of watchmaking."

Exclusive Interview

　After the opening ceremony, we conducted individual interviews with Julie Bourgeois, COO of LVMH Watch & Jewelry Japan Co., Ltd., who led the practical work of establishing the academy, and Shigeru Hayashi, Customer Service Director at the same company.

　Many people will know Mr. Hayashi, who has been active for many years as a mentor and technical trainer for watchmakers. Mr. Hayashi, who joined LVMH Watch & Jewelry Japan in July 2023, heads the Customer Service Department and also played a central role in designing the Academy's programs and preparing for its opening.

　The interview took place at the academy, adjacent to the customer service department of LVMH Watch & Jewelry Japan. The large windows of the high-rise building offer a panoramic view of Tokyo. The academy's base was established nine years ago, in 2016. Mr. Leuret said, "The building is designed to let in natural light, making it ideal for detailed work, and more than 100 staff members work in an excellent environment. Precisely because our jobs do not allow for teleworking, it is important that we learn and work in a bright, comfortable space."

The uniqueness of the academy opened in Japan

　First, I asked Julie Bourgeois whether there are similar periods of education in other countries.

"LVMH Watches & Jewelry watchmaking academies are also available in Switzerland and the United States. In Switzerland, the program, called the Ecole d'Horlogerie, began in 2016 with approximately 40 students. The academy is four years long, and graduates receive a diploma, but there's no guarantee they'll be able to continue working. Unlike schools in Japan, it's run neutrally, not affiliated with any company. The training is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, where TAG Heuer's headquarters are also located. The Japanese academy, on the other hand, is extremely unique. It has thoroughly studied the Japanese market and has created a curriculum specializing in after-sales service for mechanical watches. A major feature of the Japanese academy is that it doesn't actually manufacture watches, but is 100% focused on after-sales service. Furthermore, a high school diploma isn't necessarily required for acceptance, and a "young mindset" is emphasized."

　Regarding this mindset, Bourgeois added, "We wanted to recruit people with passion. We were looking for people who wanted to work hard in this industry and were willing to take on challenges even if they had no experience. We placed importance on people with the potential to become the next generation of leaders. However, watchmaking requires more than passion alone. Manual dexterity is also essential, so we also conducted aptitude tests."

　It should be added that Mr. Lele said in his speech at the opening ceremony, "Young people are important, but age has no bearing on the mindset. There are 90-year-olds who are still youthful. Of course, at the moment we are inviting 18- and 19-year-olds to join, but as this program develops in the future, perhaps 60-year-olds will also participate."

The main focus of the program design was on "know-how required in the field" and "working as colleagues."

　In addition to Mr. Bourgeois, the aforementioned Mr. Hayashi Shigeru also worked hard to launch this unique academy.

"Soon after joining the company in July 2023, Julie told me about the academy's plans as she explained my duties to me. I was surprised and delighted at the same time. I couldn't help but ask, 'Can I be involved?' but she replied, 'You're not involved, you're the one who does it. You're in charge.'"

　When designing the academy's program, Hayashi focused particularly on two points.

"Firstly, based on my own experience as a repair technician, I tailored the content to specialise in after-sales service. I designed lessons that linked theory and practical skills. At typical watch schools, theory and practical skills classes tend to proceed separately, which means the content is not always connected. I aimed to improve on this by creating a curriculum that directly links the theory students learn with practical skills. For example, when learning how to use a lathe, you are taught a lot about what you can do and what you can do, but the skills you will actually use in after-sales service are only a small part of that. Within the limited time of two years, I wanted to carefully select and teach the truly important knowledge required for watchmaking, as well as the skills and know-how that will be immediately useful in after-sales service."

　Hayashi places great importance on the know-how required in actual repair work.

"I don't think it's enough for students to simply be able to 'disassemble and assemble' after graduating from watchmaking school. Simply assembling a watch is not the same as providing a complete service or repair. Through disassembly and assembly, I want students to acquire the perspective and ability to respond required in an actual repair shop, such as 'For this model, this point should be checked' or 'If this part is not working, adjust this part.' Of course, I also welcome students to broaden their learning as they become interested in the lessons. However, within the limited time available, I made it my top priority to ensure that they acquired the skills necessary to be an after-sales service technician."

　The second point is Hayashi's desire to "make them our friends."

"This facility is an educational institution, but we also place great importance on the idea that it is part of the company. This is also very important to us employees. For example, if I were a student and was in a space completely separated from the workshop by walls, I might feel like, 'I'm just a student getting paid, but I can't do anything.' However, if you have the idea that you are part of the company, a sense of camaraderie will be born and you will feel more comfortable."

　This idea comes from an experience that Hayashi had when he was young.

"When I think back to when I was younger, I found it very difficult to ask questions to my seniors. Back then, they were a bit intimidating. That's why in our current environment, I want to create an atmosphere where people can feel free to ask questions to anyone, not just our trainer (Suzuki). I've told our engineers that they're welcome to come to the Academy anytime, and just last week, while the students were hard at work sharpening their drivers, our seniors dropped in to take a look and said things like, 'This is difficult, isn't it?' Through this kind of natural communication, I want to foster a sense of 'we're all friends,' and create a comfortable working environment. I also want it to feel like a project that all employees are working on, rather than a clear line between students and employees. We've also made some changes to the physical environment. This room was originally a conference room separated by a wall, but Julie worked hard to move the wall and change the layout to create a space with a window. We also replaced the ordinary doors with glass (so you can see inside and outside), and we all came up with ideas to create a more open space."

　It turns out that Bourgeois is also particularly committed to the program and educational curriculum.

"Two years will pass in the blink of an eye. For the first six months, students will focus on learning the theory, learning about the many parts and gaining a solid understanding of how the machine functions, as well as its interior and exterior. After that, students will aim to learn quartz and automatic movements, and ultimately complete chronograph servicing. We have also prepared an English language curriculum with the aim of nurturing the next generation of leaders."

"LVMH Watch & Jewelry's home country was very interested in the program, so we had to make many detailed adjustments and hold many discussions. But in the end, we were able to establish a flow that was different from a typical school: 'You study here, and after graduating, you become part of the team as an engineer at this company.'" (Hayashi)

What is the career path of graduates?

　What people are curious about is the career path after completing the two-year curriculum. Mr. Hayashi spoke frankly about his future plans, drawing on his own experience.

"I tell my students that it's best to stay here for at least five years. The program itself is two years, but you can't become a professional without work experience. Repeated practice is necessary. I think it's important to gain at least two to three years of work experience, and then four to five years later you can finally get to the real starting line. Of course, if they want to go overseas or work for a different company after two years, I'm happy to support them, but I'm frank and tell them that in reality it's difficult. I want to convey that it's only by gaining work experience that they can become true professionals."

　The program also aims to broaden the career options available to graduates by providing them with English language skills.

"We started English education at an early stage. Japanese engineers are highly regarded around the world and have advanced skills specialized in repairs, but if they can also add English skills to that, it will open up more opportunities overseas, such as working in Switzerland or being transferred within the group.

　Another advantage of building a career with the company is that you can learn the know-how that is unique to group companies.

"In the workshop, we will be mainly in charge of four brands: Bulgari, Hublot, Tag Heuer, and Zenith, but we will also handle watches from Chaumet, Dior, and Fred. Each brand has its own unique characteristics, so we place importance on giving trainees a wide range of experience. To avoid being biased towards a specific brand, for example, after working with Bulgari for a few years, we plan to have them work with Tag Heuer, then Hublot and Zenith, so that they will be exposed to a variety of watches."

　Of course, graduating from the academy does not mean one's career will be smooth sailing, continues Hayashi.

"However, I never say anything naive like, 'If you graduate from the academy, you'll immediately have an advantage.' This job is like being an athlete; it's all about how quickly and accurately you can repair things. It's a world of ability. And not just technical ability, but also the ability to respond is extremely important. For example, when a request comes in to shorten the delivery time, rather than just saying 'That's impossible,' being able to respond flexibly by saying 'I'll check if it's possible and get back to you' will determine whether you become a trusted employee. You may choose a different path in the future, such as management, a store, or marketing. I want to develop the students who study here into 'employees,' including that."

Regarding the recruitment of second batch students

　The LVMH Watches & Jewelry Watchmaking Academy kicked off with the inaugural program, welcoming two young people. Going forward, the Academy plans to continue recruiting two people every two years, meaning the next class will be in 2027.

　The background to the establishment of the Academy is that the luxury watch market is expanding due to the increase in the global wealthy and growing interest among young people, and the demand for skilled watchmakers is at an all-time high. LVMH, which owns iconic brands such as Bulgari, Hublot, Tag Heuer, and Zenith, accounts for 8 to 10% of the total luxury watch market, and further growth is expected.

　This academy allows students to take the first step towards a global career while learning the world's highest level of watchmaking technology. We hope that the young people fortunate enough to study here will enjoy their time here with great passion, knowing in their hearts that they will take flight on the world stage in the future. We, as watch lovers, also place our hopes in these students and want to support them.