The Beginning of a 55-Year Journey
'Pre-owned Watch Straps'
In 1972, Master Jang Sungwon began his connection with watches by starting as an assistant at a pre-owned watch strap workshop in the Nampo-dong area of Busan. His first tasks were simple, Organizing and processing pre-owned watch straps, But as he worked closely with customers’ watches, He gradually became curious about the structure and operating principles of the main body. That curiosity soon led to action.
He dismantled and reassembled broken watches himself and became fascinated by the unique precision and logical design of mechanical watches. He began to learn repair techniques on his own. Without any formal mentorship, Relying solely on experience accumulated in the field, His repair skills quickly gained a reputation, And as regular customers increased, He embarked on the path of a full-fledged watch repair master.
The Ability to Diagnose the Cause of Malfunction
Master Jang did not stop at simply replacing parts or repairing exteriors. He possessed the ability to fundamentally diagnose the cause of malfunctions by precisely analyzing wear patterns of internal components, Gear clearances, And oil residue. This sense, Close to precision engineering, Was the decisive factor that earned him the reputation of being ‘more than just a technician’. In particular, The story of restoring a vintage model that even Swiss masters had given up on is still talked about today and is considered a symbolic example of Master Jang Sungwon’s standing in the industry.
Through hands-on experience, He not only developed his own repair techniques but also created special tools that did not exist in Korea. Tools such as hand removers, Dial lifters, And dedicated brushes were all devised to minimize damage to watches while increasing precision. These techniques are still referred to in the industry as the ‘Jang Sungwon Method’ and are cited as a textbook among junior technicians.
In 1997, He was finally awarded the title of Master in the field of watches for the first time in Korea, And his skills and dedication were recognized at the national level. This was the first official case in which not just manual skills but also interpretation and restoration philosophy regarding watch repair were institutionally approved. Even after that, He has continued to repair and appraise watches in the field, Meeting a wide range of watches and people from general customers to high-end collectors through his offline store ‘Jang Sungwon Watch’.
The Philosophy of a Master
Master Jang still adheres to the philosophy that “there is no supreme in repair” and studies new watches every day. His 50 years are not merely the accumulation of time but can be said to be the heritage of a craftsman who has perfected sophisticated techniques without a single error.
Grey
Watch nomad
