Ben Bridge: Our Legacy of Watchmaking

A good luxury watch is like an extension of you. It reflects your interests, style and desire to wear something made to exacting standards with a rich heritage. When it’s looked after, a quality timepiece can last a lifetime and beyond. 

At Ben Bridge, our Personal Jewelers are committed to helping you find the perfect timepiece, but that’s just the beginning. From repairs to scheduled services, our watchmaking team is comprised of professional, experienced watchmakers who are invested in helping to ensure your watch will run like new for years to come. 

Our legacy of watchmaking stretches back more than 110 years and we have honored that heritage by building relationships with the most premier luxury watch brands in the world. To us, watchmaking is not just a profession; it is our craft and our passion. 

Our Watchmaking Roots Run Deep 

When our founder Sam Silverman made his way west in the early 1900s, he supported his young family by repairing and maintaining pocket watches for train conductors, who were required to keep their watches maintained and accurate to Railroad Chronometer standards. He knew that every second counted when it came to keeping the railways moving on schedule and quickly gained a reputation for his precision workmanship and knowledge. 

After arriving in Seattle, he opened a small storefront called Silverman Jewelers, specializing in jewelry and watch sales and service. Throughout his career, people came from miles around to have their watches serviced by his expert hand. 

When Sam retired, he passed his business along to his son-in-law Ben Bridge. While the business changed hands and names, the founding principles and commitment to watchmaking only grew stronger. Under the leadership of Ben Bridge and eventually his sons Herb and Bob, the number of locations and luxury watch brands continued to grow. 

By the 1970s, our reputation for quality watchmaking services expanded and in 1973 we were entrusted as an official Rolex Partner, joining a select group of retailers authorized to sell and service Rolex watches. 

We also built meaningful relationships with other luxury watch brands and expanded our team of watchmakers certified to service even the most complex movements. 

Honoring Our Legacy Through Modern Watchmaking Excellence 

Today, we have 30 professional watchmakers on staff with over 430 years of combined experience. They work at a state-of-the-art watchmaking facility in our downtown Seattle headquarters and in Ben Bridge store locations in several states. 

Many of our watchmakers have achieved the highest level of certification, including SAWTA (Swiss American Watchmakers Training Alliance), CW-21 (Certified Watchmaker of the 21st Century) and WOSTEP (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program). Each of these is a rigorous, two-year, 3,000-hour program that requires dedication and passion to build the skills needed to be a member of our watchmaking team. 

In addition to those certifications, our watchmakers have the highest level of training from the manufacturers of many of the brands we carry, including Rolex, Cartier, IWC, Panerai, Tag Heuer, Hamilton, and Tissot.

The close relationship we have with these brands and the high level of certification means that we have the ability to service watches to the most exacting manufacturer standards while using authentic parts. Whether you are looking to buy a new luxury watch, or have yours serviced, it all starts with your Personal Jeweler at Ben Bridge. They are committed to building lasting relationships and ensuring you always get the highest level of service. Your Personal Jeweler will work closely with you and our watchmaking team to keep the entire process streamlined and transparent.

Supporting a Strong Future for Watchmaking 

At Ben Bridge, we are committed to building a strong future for watchmaking and nurturing the next generation of professional watchmakers. That’s why we are proud to offer the Ben Bridge Scholarship for aspiring watchmakers. In addition to the scholarship, we also have an apprenticeship program that provides real-world, hands on experience for watchmaking students as well as recent graduates. 

Ben Bridge's dedication to inclusivity and more equal representation of all expands into every aspect of our business, including watchmaking. We are a longtime partner of the Watch Technology Institute at North Seattle College, where we offer our Ben Bridge Endowment of Horology which provides financial aid to minority students.

Our Watchmakers are Here for You 

When you’re looking for a trusted watchmaker to service your luxury timepiece, you can trust Ben Bridge and our over 110-year legacy of watchmaking. Whether you need a repair, a scheduled service or want to talk to a professional about choosing the perfect watch for yourself or someone special, we warmly invite you to visit your local Ben Bridge store or browse a selection of top watch brands online.