Set up a watchmaker's bench at home

A steady bench is a place where you can see the work without hunching over it, rest your arms without pressing on a sharp edge and find every component again. There is no single bench height that suits every person and chair.

Adjust around yourself

Sit down before choosing a riser or bench. Put an empty movement holder where you expect to work. Bring it into a comfortable view using lighting and magnification, then check that you can support your forearms. If the setup requires bent wrists or raised shoulders, change it before starting a long session.

HSE's workstation guidance concerns screen work rather than watchmaking. Its general advice to vary posture, avoid glare and take short breaks is useful context; it does not prescribe a watch bench dimension.

Keep a clean and dirty side

Reserve one tray for unopened parts and another for tools or case components that have been handled. Close the parts tray whenever you stand up. Use a removable light-coloured mat so a small screw is easier to see. Keep packaging and reference drawings nearby without placing them over the watch.

End each session deliberately

Photograph the current state for your own record, label the tray and cover the work. Put sharp tools away. Account for loose cells immediately and keep them out of children's reach. Write down the next action so you do not have to reconstruct your reasoning later.

Start with the job-by-job tool checklist and the lighting guide. A tidy table and a modest set of suitable tools are enough to begin planning; a dedicated furniture purchase can wait until you know how you work.