The Watch Coordinator Qualification Examination is a learning opportunity that enriches your watch hobby

FEATURES Magazine article

2022.10.17

The Watch Coordinator Qualification Examination is a qualification examination system that requires a wide range of knowledge, from the history of watches to sales know-how. Although it is a qualification aimed at watch salespeople, it should also be a good learning opportunity for watch enthusiasts who deal with watches on a daily basis.

The official CWC textbook can be ordered from bookstores nationwide, as well as from the National Official Gazette Sales Cooperative Association and the Japan Watch Importers Association (JWIACWC) Secretariat. The application period for the 12th Watch Coordinator Qualification Examination will be from November 1 to 30, 2022, and the exam will be held at two locations in Tokyo and Osaka on January 25, 2023.

Edited & Text by Kouki Doi (Chronos-Japan)
[Article published in the July 2022 issue of Kronos Japan]

"CWC" -Certified Watch Coordinator-

Ken Uzawa, assistant manager at Nisshindo Ginza Main Store, who cooperated with this interview, said that the written test covered a wide range of topics, so he spent about an hour every morning before work rereading the textbook over and over again to memorize it.

　The Watch Coordinator Qualification Examination (hereinafter referred to as CWC), established by the Japan Watch Importers Association, is now in its 12th year. To date, approximately 2860 people have been certified, and watch coordinators with extensive specialized knowledge, or "watch sales specialists," are active in stores across the country.

　CWC is actually the perfect opportunity for watch enthusiasts to deepen their knowledge, as it allows them to systematically acquire a wide range of knowledge, from the history of watch development and mechanical mechanisms to the correct methods of sales and customer service. We spoke to Ken Uzawa, a CWC certified person who works as an assistant manager at Nisshindo's Ginza flagship store, about the appeal of the course.

Nisshindo

Founded in 1892, Nisshindo boasts a history of 130 years. Currently operating seven stores across Japan, the long-established company has been in business for over 70 years since its flagship store was established in Ginza. The store carries luxury mechanical watches from prestigious Swiss brands such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, as well as Japan's own Grand Seiko, and will support you in choosing a watch that will last a lifetime with the trust and extensive expertise it has built up over the years. The Ginza flagship store is located in Ginza 7-chome, a district lined with watch shops, and was renovated in 2016.

　He obtained his CWC qualification in 2017 after talking to his boss about wanting to further deepen the knowledge he had acquired up to that point. As Nisshindo deals in luxury watches such as Patek Philippe, the company encourages all employees to obtain the qualification. "In today's information-saturated world, the knowledge gained through a formal qualification can be conveyed with confidence to subordinates and customers."

　Indeed, sources of knowledge are important, and this leads to trust from customers. Another attraction is the special programs available to qualified personnel, and Uzawa says he participated in a movement assembly training session at a watchmaking school. "When you actually do the work yourself, you get a real sense of the technicians' incredible skills, which makes it more persuasive when you explain things to customers."

In addition, there will be seminars with influential lecturers in the watch industry, so you can be sure to have a meaningful time even after passing the exam. Whether you are a beginner learning from scratch or an enthusiast looking for information, taking the Watch Coordinator qualification exam will be a good opportunity to deepen your knowledge of watches.