Cambodia’s First Watchmaking School Opens in Phnom Penh
The Prince* Horology Vocational Training Center.
Date
2019.12.2

One of Asia’s quickest growing economies, Cambodia remains a relatively small market for mechanical watches, but now boasts its own watchmaking school – led by a pair of former WOSTEP instructors – which will begin operations in mid 2020.

Supported by a local real estate conglomerate, the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center will offer a full-time, two-year course in watchmaking. Totalling some 3,400 hours of training, the watchmaking course will be comprehensive and modelled on the education offered by Swiss watchmaking schools.

Designed by a team that includes a former director of WOSTEP, Switzerland’s leading watchmaking school, the course includes watchmaking history and culture, toolmaking and maintenance, repair and servicing of both mechanical and quartz watches, as well as some parts production.

Located in the Chrouy Changvar district of central Phnom Penh, the country’s capital, the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center recently opened its premises, which are fully equipped with brand new benches and tools, giving students the opportunity to learn both watch repair as well as movement part production and finishing.

The school’s leadership team includes Jessica Thakur, formerly an instructor at Richemont’s American watchmaking school in Texas and then at WOSTEP, as well as Maarten Pieters, who was the director of WOSTEP from 2002 to 2018. Prior to that, Mr Pieters spent several years at complications specialist THA, and then Omega’s Haute de Gamme department where he helped refine the Omega Central Tourbillon. And a senior adviser to the school is Xu Zhou, a mechanical engineer by training but also a self-taught watchmaker.

*The Prince Charitable Organization is part of the Prince Real Estate Group
Funded by the Prince Charitable Organization In Cambodia, the school will also offer scholarships to local students and those requiring financial assistance, ranging from a 50% subsidy of the school fees to a fully paid scholarship that includes accommodation.

https://watchesbysjx.com/2019/12/cambod ... ology.html

Hands up those that have had their watch cleaned or overhauled in the last ten years.

Watchmaking is a obsolete trade, along with many others.

Prince is throwing money around left and right.

UPDATE
3 minute readNovember 10, 20227:40 AM GMT+1Last Updated an hour ago
Cambodian PM to give luxury watches as ASEAN summit souvenirs
Reuters

[1/3] A view of the mechanism of a wristwatch intended as a souvenir for world leaders gathering at the ASEAN Cambodia 2022 summit, in this undated image obtained from social media on November 10, 2022. HE official Facebook page/via REUTERS

PHNOM PENH, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister HE, an aficionado of luxury watches, will hand out intricate, locally made timepieces as souvenirs for world leaders at an international summit he is hosting this week.

HE, who has ruled Cambodia for 37 years, has faced public scrutiny in recent years after being photographed wearing luxury watches, including by Patek Philippe and Richard Mille, that cost more than $1 million each, while much of the country struggles with poverty.

Photos shared by HE on his official Facebook page showed a close-up of the limited edition watch face with gold hands, a transparent case and a brown leather strap, emblazoned with the words "ASEAN Cambodia 2022" and "Made in Cambodia".

"These watches have been prepared and assembled by pure Cambodian technicians, which is part of scientific and technology and developments of Cambodia," HE wrote of the 25 limited-edition watches.

A video showed the elaborate inner gears of the watch, engraved with "tourbillon" and "twenty-five (25) jewels" and the name of the Cambodian watchmaker, Prince Horology.

The cost of the Cambodian-made timepieces has not been made public.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 022-11-10/

That’s some accomplishment is they are genuinely made in Cambodia. Bonus if the innards are and double bonus if the complete watch is!

Good job.

First Batch of Students Graduate from Watchmaking School

Cambodia News, (Phnom Penh), November 10, 2022: The Prince Watch Vocational Training Center, established by Prince Foundation to bring the best Swiss watchmaking education to Cambodia, is proud to announce that the first six Cambodian students have successfully completed a two-year program in microcomputer and watchmaking.

The 6 graduates are: Chak Sam Sorya, Lon Sereyvath, Sak Ly Hour, Samut Phany, Cha Rath, Sem Theara and Ung Chhun Long receive their certificates at an official event held at the headquarters Head of Prince Holding Group with the participation of their family members and staff of Prince Watch Vocational Training Center To celebrate this wonderful occasion.


Prince Watch Vocational Training Center was established by Duke Chen Zi, President of Prince Holding Group. At Prince Watch Vocational Training Center, students have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment and facilities under the tutelage of Swiss trainers with more than 60 years of combined professional experience in the field of Swiss watchmaking and Swiss watchmaking education, including experience working in luxury teams such as the Swatch Group and Richemont, and training and education programs of the production of the world-famous Swiss watch (WOSTEP).

The training center is now open for local and international candidates to register for the next course, which will start on January 9, 2023. Cambodians will benefit greatly from the scholarship program, which includes tuition, monthly stipends and accommodation allowances.

I saw this news recently and couldn´t help to think if it´s some kind of statement because HE was critized and questions were raised about a very expensive watch he was seen wearing. The watches are being given to officials and I think it´s kind of a " look , we do give each other watches as gifts "

HE, who has ruled Cambodia for 37 years, has faced public scrutiny in recent years after being photographed wearing luxury watches, including by Patek Philippe and Richard Mille, that cost more than $1 million each

And still countries throw aid money at Cambodia (I know - it’s of interest to those countries to have ‘an in’ to Cambodia because of that money, but this is blood boiling.)


Anyway.


I wonder how those students ended up on the course - chosen, encouraged, etc. not even one female - maybe females had more sense, maybe females weren’t considered for the course.
It doesn’t seem like the type of career that would have parents of the future encouraging their children into - ahead of doctors and lawyers etc.

violet wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 8:59 pm

HE, who has ruled Cambodia for 37 years, has faced public scrutiny in recent years after being photographed wearing luxury watches, including by Patek Philippe and Richard Mille, that cost more than $1 million each

And still countries throw aid money at Cambodia (I know - it’s of interest to those countries to have ‘an in’ to Cambodia because of that money, but this is blood boiling.)


Anyway.


I wonder how those students ended up on the course - chosen, encouraged, etc. not even one female - maybe females had more sense, maybe females weren’t considered for the course.
It doesn’t seem like the type of career that would have parents of the future encouraging their children into - ahead of doctors and lawyers etc.

Did you ever think no females applied?

atst wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 9:14 pm

violet wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 8:59 pm

HE, who has ruled Cambodia for 37 years, has faced public scrutiny in recent years after being photographed wearing luxury watches, including by Patek Philippe and Richard Mille, that cost more than $1 million each

And still countries throw aid money at Cambodia (I know - it’s of interest to those countries to have ‘an in’ to Cambodia because of that money, but this is blood boiling.)


Anyway.


I wonder how those students ended up on the course - chosen, encouraged, etc. not even one female - maybe females had more sense, maybe females weren’t considered for the course.
It doesn’t seem like the type of career that would have parents of the future encouraging their children into - ahead of doctors and lawyers etc.

Did you ever think no females applied?

It seems I ever did