Young watchmaking talent

A master bucks the trend of the times

Michael Bastirz comes from the training center of the "Mecca of watchmaking" in Karlstein. He was already a master of his trade at the age of 19 and wants to be successful in a dying industry: With huge know-how and great motivation, the young talent is now opening his own business in Schwarzenau in the Waldviertel.

"As a watchmaker, you can start anywhere in the metal industry - precision mechanics are in demand," emphasizes young master watchmaker Michael Bastirz. The exceptional talent deliberately decided against accepting job offers from Canada, Switzerland or Germany after taking a longer break from the army with a six-month deployment in Kosovo. He chose Styria and opted for the "real" watchmaking trade with old master Heinz Michalka in Liezen.