External parts, separate from the movement
Swiss watchmaking separates the movement, assembled by the watchmaker in a Swiss manufacture, from the external parts: case, dial, hands and bracelet. The polisher works on metal external parts in steel, gold, platinum or titanium, before quality control and casing.
Watch case finisher CFC
The federal title of the trade is termineur en habillage horloger CFC, the Federal VET Diploma for watch external parts finishers. Training covers polishing, satin finishing, sandblasting, surface preparation and visual inspection, with inter-company courses run by the industry, notably in the Jura Arc.
A federal certificate to get started
For candidates who prefer shorter, more practical training, a federal VET certificate (AFP) for polishers exists. It leads to repetitive series work in Jura workshops and can later open the way to the CFC through a shortened training route.
Mirror polish, satin finish and sharp edges
A single case often combines satin-finished faces, mirror-polished bevels and sharp edges that must not be rounded off. Recruiters in the Vallée de Joux or Geneva examine the evenness of the satin finish and the crispness of transitions on test pieces.
Case workshops in Jura and the Bernese Jura
Porrentruy, Delémont, Le Noirmont, Tramelan and Saint-Imier are home to many case makers and finishing subcontractors. These companies, presented in our hub on watchmaking jobs in Switzerland, regularly recruit polishers, sometimes through specialised placement agencies.
Geneva and haute horlogerie
In Geneva, haute horlogerie houses and their suppliers apply very strict finishing standards, such as those of the Geneva Seal. Polishers there work on short runs in precious metals, where a single scratch can cause a very expensive part to be rejected.
Metal bracelets and clasps
Bracelet makers in Biel, Grenchen and the Jura Arc employ polishers for links, folding clasps and integrated bracelets. Working on assembled links requires protecting neighbouring areas and keeping alignments perfect across the whole bracelet.
Close links with jewellery
Gold and platinum polishing techniques bring the trade close to that of the jeweller in Switzerland. Some Geneva polishers move between the two sectors depending on the economic cycle, provided they master the felts, pastes and brushes suited to precious metals.
Health, dust and ergonomics
Polishing generates metal dust and paste residues, so workstations must have extraction and operators must be protected. Suva publishes recommendations on noise, vibration and musculoskeletal disorders linked to repetitive movements at the bench.
Polishers living in Franche-Comté
A large share of the polishers working in Jura and Neuchâtel live in Morteau, Maîche or Delle and cross the border every day. With a Swiss contract they receive a G permit and remain subject to the tax rules of the Franco-Swiss agreement.
Collective agreement and minimum wages
The watch and microtechnology industry agreement sets minimum starting salaries by region and qualification. Jura also imposes a cantonal minimum of 21.40 francs per hour in 2026 and Neuchâtel 21.35 francs, while the agreement's pay scales are often higher.
Watch export trends and hiring
Polisher jobs react quickly to orders: during downturns, Jura case workshops cut hours or temporary assignments, then hire again. Following the monthly statistics of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry helps you choose the right moment to apply.
How to become a watch polisher in Switzerland
- Compare your training, a French CAP in polishing or jewellery experience, with the watch case finisher CFC and request a SEFRI level certificate.
- Prepare sharp photos of pieces you have finished, specifying metals, finishes carried out and machines used.
- Write a Swiss-style CV with photo, detailed employment references and contact details of workshop managers who can confirm your skills.
- Target case and bracelet workshops in Jura, Neuchâtel, Biel or Geneva, as well as watchmaking placement agencies.
- Pass the practical bench trial by showing an even satin finish, respected edges and a clean workstation.
- Have your G or B permit issued by the cantonal population office, with the contract signed by the employer.
Salary benchmarks and costs for a polisher
| Item | Amount or indication | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage in Jura | 21.40 CHF gross per hour in 2026 | Cantonal floor, the watch industry CCT may be higher |
| Minimum wage in Neuchâtel | 21.35 CHF gross per hour in 2026 | Applies to all Neuchâtel workshops |
| Minimum wage in Geneva | 24.59 CHF gross per hour in 2026 | Geneva haute horlogerie workshops |
| Salary of a qualified polisher | Indicative, according to the watch industry agreement scale | Region, qualification, precious metals, seniority |
| SEFRI level certificate | 350 CHF | Foreign polishing or jewellery diploma |
| Health insurance | LAMal premium or cross-border right of option | Residence in Switzerland or France, deductible |
Useful documents for a polisher position
- Swiss-style CV with photo and list of finishes mastered
- Employment references from watch or jewellery workshops
- CFC, AFP, CAP or foreign diploma with SEFRI level certificate
- Photos of finished pieces, without confidential client information
- G permit, residence permit or passport
- Criminal record extract, often requested when handling precious metals
What makes a polisher application fail
- Rounding edges or distorting surfaces during the trial, when the workshop judges respected geometry and an even satin finish above all.
- Sharing photos of a brand's prototype pieces, which breaches the confidentiality required by every watch house.
- Neglecting Swiss employment references or submitting only a French-style CV, with no detail on metals and finishes.
- Accepting a salary below the Jura or Neuchâtel cantonal minimum, or below the collective agreement scale for your category.
- Paying a so-called agency to get a job in a manufacture: placement is free of charge for candidates in Switzerland.
Watch polishing: your questions about jobs in Switzerland
Can you become a watch polisher without a diploma?
Yes, many Jura workshops train skilful operators in-house, especially for series polishing. Having no qualification does limit progression, however; a federal certificate or the watch case finisher CFC, prepared through adult training, then opens up qualified positions.
What is the difference between a polisher and a watch case finisher?
In job ads, the two terms often describe the same position. The official CFC title is watch case finisher, covering polishing, satin finishing and sandblasting, while polisher rather describes the main task carried out at the bench.
Can a watch polisher move into other jobs?
Yes, into quality control of external parts, managing a finishing workshop or programming robotic polishing cells. Training in machining, close to the micromechanic trade, makes it easier to move into technical roles at case makers.
Do watch workshops hire nationals from outside the European Union?
Rarely, because permits for third-country nationals are subject to quotas, namely 4500 B permits and 4000 L permits in 2026, and reserved mainly for specialists who cannot be found in Europe. Workshops recruit first in Switzerland and in the French border area.