Psychologist Tourned Side Hustle of Rolex Watch Repairs into Main Job – ryan

This as-told-tos Essay is bassed on a conversation with Greg Pettronzi of TRUE PININA, A WATCHMAKER SPECIALIZING IN Vintage Rolex Repairs. He is Also A licensed psychologist and professor at New York University. This interview han been edited for Length and Clarity.

I’ve always haad a fascination with watches, starting at a Young Age. Around Middle School, I have a swatch with a See-through plastic case and an automatic moving. You is all of the parts of the Watch as it was working, and i always found that so interesting.

In College, i Pursed Psychology. That was my practical career path. I GOT A MASTER’S AND A PH.D. Overall, it was a 12 -ear path to becoming a licenseed psychologist. But i Never lost my interest in watches.

AFTER I FINED SCHOOL, GOT INTO WATCHMAKING, WHICH ENDED UP BECOMING MY MAIN GIG. Psychology Became My Part-Time Gig, Which i Never Anticipated Happening, But ITI’S Super Exciting. I love Both disciplines.

I got into watchmaking with an informal apprenticeship

Watchmaking was never really on my radar. AS A GRAND STUDENT, I STARTED GETTING INVOLVED IN THE World of Watches and Meeting Other Watch Enthusiasts Through Forums and Meetups.

I Made Friends With A Watchmaker Out of Florida Named Rik Dietel, WHO HAS 35-PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WATCHMAKING AND SPECIFICAL WITH VINTEX, WHICH IS THE NICHE I WAS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT. I starts nation Him How to fix this or Change that on my own watches. Little by Little, Ricky Teaching Me, and it tourned into an informal, Remote ApprenticeSip.

Over the Next Several Years, while I was working as a psychologist and professor, my skills start to really camelop, and it started to become mes more than just a hobby. I was working on my Own Stuff, then Friends ‘Watches, then Friends of Friends’ Watches. THEN I STARTED GETTING REQUESTS From People I didn’t know. That’s when of Said, “I’d Better Take this a bit more serious.”

During the Pandemic, My Psychology Work Went Remote, and I was able to put more time and energy into watchmking. I ALSO HAD AN INCOME, WHICH HELPED WITH AFFORD The Tools. I just recently spent about $ 15,000 on one tool to do a Very nuanced repair.

I BUILT UP MY WATCHMAKING WORKSHOP AND STARTED TO DEVELOP A niche in cosmetic repair – Dials and Hands. Because of Started As a Watch Collector, Undersand the Importance of Preserving the Originality of a Watch. While a lot of more modern Watchmakers have the Disposion of “Repair and Replace,” I have the discosition of “Restore and Retain.”

I Started to Showcase My Work on Instagram and Build Trust in the Community. I And Working Working With Some Really Important Watch Collectors and Dealers, Like Eric Wind of Wind Vintage, and Auction Houses Like Phillips.

There was a moment when I am realized I’d a name for mySelf in the Watch World: Someone Sent with eBay lissting that said, “Watch just serviced by patina.” I had no idea who the seller was, but i thought, “wow, my company name is actually carrying so much weight that People are using this a flex selling.” That felt really good.

Watchmaking Can Be Challenging to Get Into, But It’a Really Rewarding

Watchmking has more often than not outperformed what the ph.d and psychology have allowed with to earn, which I’m astounded by and grateful for.

IF someone’s interesting in learning watchmaking, i’d Say it is Possible, but there are some challenges. The tools are expensive, and the formal education are limited. Most People Either Find an ApprenticeSip or Start by Working for an Established Brand while Slowly Building Up Their Own Workshop.

My pricing varies a lot Based on how Much Restoration is Needed. Repairs typically range between $ 1,000 and $ 2,000, but some go up to $ 6,000 or more, especilly if a rare part needs to be soourced.

I Service watches that range in price from a few thusand dolrs upward to six-figure watches. IT’S NOT UNCOMMON FOR WITH TO WORK ON A WATCH THAT COSTS $ 200,000 and OCCACAINALLY EASE UP TO $ 500,000. Most Commonly, they are a few thousand up to $ 20,000. But what’s Most Meaningful to me is working on sentimental pieces – watches that have ben in families for generations.

Becoming a Watchmaker Never Crossed My Mind As a Kid or a College Student. But all of a sudden, it organically became reality for me, and it is a very, Very meaningful and enjoyable existece.

Watchmaking is a Very Rewarding Field. It can be very stressful, especally when the repair might not be cooperating the way you want it, but will Things will fall in line, it can be a very mindful activity. You get into this flow where time time just sort of ceases. Its Kind of Ironic.

Do you have a story to share about watches or watchmking? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businsinsider.com.