Q&A: Leicester watchmaker Ross Chapman on his journey from the city to Hollywood

From working at Watches of Switzerland in Leicester to repairing watches belonging to Hollywood stars and NBA players in Los Angeles, Ross Chapman has taken his career from the Midlands to the heart of the American entertainment industry.

The internationally acclaimed British watchmaker has built a reputation as an expert in his field, earning the trust of high-profile clients who want their prized timepieces in the safest possible hands.

Now based in Los Angeles, Ross is also helping train the next generation of watchmakers, sharing the skills he has spent years developing.

Leicester TV spoke with Ross for an exclusive interview to discuss his Leicester connections, his move to America, working with celebrity clients and why he wants to inspire more young people to enter the profession.

You began your career in watchmaking in the UK. What do you remember about that time?

My time in the UK was incredibly important to me. It was where I learnt the trade and developed my skills as a watchmaker.

Working at Watches of Switzerland in Leicester was part of that journey, and the experience I gained helped give me a strong foundation for what came later in my career.

There is such a rich history of watchmaking in Britain, and I was fortunate to learn in an environment where I could continue developing my knowledge. It was hard work, but I loved it.

You learn something new all the time when you work with watches, and that is one of the things that has always kept me interested in the profession.

How did your career eventually take you from Leicester to Los Angeles?

LA was a completely new challenge. I had built my career in the UK and wanted to see what I could do in America.

Los Angeles has this incredible mix of entertainment, sport and luxury, so there are some amazing opportunities here. It has been exciting bringing what I learnt in Britain to a completely different market.

Moving to another country also gives you the chance to meet new people, work with different clients and approach your profession from another perspective.

You now work on watches belonging to some very recognisable names. What is that like?

It is obviously a great feeling when people trust you with something that means a lot to them.

I’ve worked on watches for people including Grey’s Anatomy actor James Pickens Jr. and NBA stars, which is a pretty surreal thing when you think about it.

At the end of the day though, the watch still has to be treated exactly the same way. Whether someone is a Hollywood actor, an NBA player or a collector, you want to do the best possible job.

For me, it always comes back to the quality of the work and making sure every watch receives the attention it deserves.

Does working in Hollywood feel very different from your experience in Leicester?

There are definitely differences, but the watches are still watches.

LA is obviously a very different place from Leicester, and you are surrounded by the entertainment industry here, which makes it interesting.

You can go from working on a watch for someone in Hollywood to dealing with another client completely outside that world.

Regardless of where you are working or who your clients are, the fundamentals of watchmaking remain the same.

You have also been teaching aspiring watchmakers in Texas. Why is passing on your knowledge important to you?

I was invited to teach students who are coming through the industry and looking to become watchmakers themselves.

I really enjoyed it. Watchmaking is a skill that needs to be passed down, and I think it is important that people already working in the industry give something back and help the next generation.

It is an incredible profession, but it takes dedication, patience and a willingness to keep learning. If I can help young people develop those skills and build careers of their own, that is something I would be proud of.

What does it mean to be considered a leader in your field?

It is a huge compliment. I am still always learning myself, but if people see you as someone they can learn from, that is something to be proud of.

I want to keep improving and keep pushing myself. There is always another watch, another movement and another problem to solve.

That is one of the things I love about watchmaking. No matter how much experience you have, there is always something new to discover.

What is next for you, and do you have a message for people in Leicester who might be considering a career in watchmaking?

I want to keep building what I have started in Los Angeles and continue working at the highest level I can.

I also want to keep supporting young people coming into watchmaking. It is an incredible profession, and I want to see more young watchmakers coming through.

For anyone in Leicester thinking about watchmaking as a career, I would say that if you have a genuine interest in how things work and enjoy learning a skill, it is definitely worth exploring.