One of the biggest mistakes a beginner can make is rushing to buy cheap tool kits sold online. These low-quality tools are prone to slipping, scratching your bridges and stripping the screw heads of your calibres.

To set up a watchmaking workshop at home, quality matters more than quantity. Five essential tools are enough to start dismantling a training movement: a set of 3 precision screwdrivers (0.80, 1.20 and 1.50 mm diameters), a fine pair of high-quality brass or steel tweezers, a watchmaker's loupe (3× magnification), a blower to clear away dust, and a stable movement holder.

This professional tool set, which you can obtain from specialised suppliers, will guarantee clean and safe work on your components.

Buy progressively, in step with the theory: the bench section of how to learn watchmaking online lists what is genuinely useful in the first months, and watchmaking for beginners explains the gesture attached to each tool.

Need help equipping your first workbench? Décalibre advises you on choosing your tools and shows you how to organise your workspace to get started under the best conditions.