a person who makes or repairs watches and clocks with precise mechanical skill.
Compound of 'watch' (timepiece) and 'maker' (one who makes). As watches became important in the 16th-17th centuries, specialized craftspeople emerged to build these intricate instruments.
Watchmakers were the tech engineers of their time—working with springs smaller than grains of rice and gears that had to mesh perfectly. Their obsession with precision actually helped develop modern manufacturing and science itself, since accurate timekeeping was crucial for navigation and astronomy.
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