He was told that he was better suited as a watchmaker than a lawyer, but by then, Jean's father had already retired, so he became an apprentice to his cousin who had a watch-shop.
وقِيل له إنه ملائم أكثر كصانع ساعات منه كمحام، ولكن بحلول ذالك الوقت، كان والد جان قد تقاعد، وبذلك أصبح تلميذًا لابن عمه الذي كان يملك متجر ساعات.