Diploma in Horology/Instrumentation: Gauge Restoration
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in horology and instrumentation for classic vehicle gauge restoration. 8 modules covering period on-board instruments, operating principles, dismantling and diagnosis, mechanical and cosmetic restoration, calibration and adaptation for present-day use, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Horology/Instrumentation: Gauge Restoration — studying from South Africa
Classic vehicle restoration is a niche but active interest in South Africa, supported by owners' clubs, specialist workshops and historic motorsport events. Restoration work draws on skills in mechanical engineering, materials and heritage conservation. Specialists source parts, rebuild engines and conserve bodywork for vintage and classic cars and motorcycles. Clubs and heritage organisations help maintain the community and promote conservation practice.
Fees for South Africa: R 24 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Restoration work is not generally a regulated title, though ECSA registration applies to engineering roles and the SABS covers relevant standards. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by clients, employers or the relevant body, so check with them first.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in restoration and classic vehicles?
The classic vehicle sector is largely made up of specialist workshops, collectors and small firms that value demonstrable craftsmanship and reputation over formal credentials. A private qualification may add technical depth to your profile, but its impact depends on individual clients and employers. Speak to people in the field to see how they would regard it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. You get an assigned technical tutor, can pay in instalments, and may seek employer sponsorship. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details before committing.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the on-board instruments of each period.
Understand the operating principles of gauges.
Diagnose mechanical and electrical faults.
Restore mechanisms using horological techniques.
Recover dials, needles and bezels with sound judgement.
Calibrate instruments with traceability.
Adapt instrumentation to present-day use of the vehicle.
Who it's for
- Vehicle instrument restorers.
- Calibration technicians.
- Restoration watchmakers and clockmakers.
- Interior restoration technicians.
- Regularity rally vehicle specialists.
- Technical heritage conservators.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter classic vehicle restoration.
What you'll work with
- FIVA Charter of Turin (principles for the use and restoration of historic vehicles)
- Royal Decree 892/2013, Historic Vehicles Regulation (Spanish regulation on historic vehicles)
- Royal Decree 1029/2022 (Spanish regulation on health protection against ionising radiation)
- ISO/IEC 17025 (competence of testing and calibration laboratories)
- FIVA Technical Code (technical classification of historic vehicles)
- Fusion 360
- Adobe Illustrator
- Microsoft Excel
- Agisoft Metashape
8 modules
1.1Speedometers and odometers1.2Mechanical and electric tachometers1.3Oil pressure gauges1.4Water temperature gauges1.5Fuel gauges1.6Ammeters and voltmeters1.7Dashboard clocks1.8Historical manufacturers1.9Evolution by decade1.10Workshop: identification of the instruments on a dashboard
2.1Eddy-current speedometers2.2Centrifugal speedometers2.3Bourdon tubes2.4Capillary thermometers2.5Crossed-coil gauges2.6Moving-iron galvanometers2.7Wind-up clockwork mechanisms2.8Self-winding electric clocks2.9Flexible drive cables2.10Practical: dismantling a magnetic speedometer
3.1Opening crimped bezels3.2Removing needles without damage3.3Diagnosing mechanical faults3.4Diagnosing electrical faults3.5Corrosion and dirt3.6Gear wear3.7Photographic documentation3.8Parts inventory3.9Repair criteria3.10Case study: diagnosing a stuck tachometer
4.1Ultrasonic cleaning4.2Clockwork lubrication4.3Repair of gears and arbors4.4Spring replacement4.5Repair of Bourdon tubes4.6Restoration of capillaries4.7Rebuilding odometer counters4.8Making parts on a watchmaker's lathe4.9Adjusting clearances4.10Workshop: restoring a dashboard clock mechanism
5.1Painted and screen-printed dials5.2Restoring versus reproducing dials5.3Needles: paint and luminescence5.4Radium paints and their risks5.5Chrome- and nickel-plated bezels5.6Glass and plastic lenses5.7Seals and sealing5.8Originality criteria5.9Documentation of interventions5.10Practical: restoring needles without radioactive paint
6.1Speedometer calibration benches6.2Drive ratio and instrument constant6.3Tachometer calibration6.4Pressure gauge calibration6.5Temperature gauge verification6.6Fuel gauge adjustment6.7Reference standards and traceability6.8Measurement uncertainty6.9Calibration certificate6.10Lab: bench calibration of a speedometer
7.1Adapting drive ratios7.2Instruments on vehicles with changed tyre sizes7.3Discreet sensors for regularity rallies7.4Hidden electronic conversions7.5Instrument lighting7.6Reliability in frequent use7.7Roadworthiness test rules for historic vehicles7.8Radioactivity risks and protection7.9Preventive maintenance7.10Case study: adapting a speedometer to a new differential
8.1Selection of the instrument set8.2Historical research8.3Diagnosis8.4Restoration plan8.5Mechanical restoration8.6Cosmetic restoration8.7Final calibration8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Fusion 360, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Excel and Agisoft Metashape, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for bench calibration of speedometers, restoration of clockwork mechanisms and reproduction of dials and needles. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: FIVA Charter of Turin, Royal Decree 892/2013, Historic Vehicles Regulation, Royal Decree 1029/2022, ISO/IEC 17025, FIVA Technical Code.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Fusion 360, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Excel and Agisoft Metashape, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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