“This shop has been here for nearly 40 years now. I had joined this trade after completing my schooling. I worked in several cities across India like Bombay, Chennai, and Pune before starting my own business here in Hyderabad. The watch mechanic profession was highly respected back then.

I used to work on many classic watches such as Rolex, Quartz, Seiko, Patek Philippe, and so on. Many old-time pendulum clocks were also brought to my shop for repairs. Now, I am not repairing them because those watch parts are extremely difficult to find and are expensive. But if the customer is willing to bear the cost, I can repair almost any clock or watch.

Over the years, because of the increase in the usage of smartphones, people are slowly shifting to other alternatives. Moreover, my business has been impacted badly because of the ongoing Covid pandemic. But that’s okay. The money I earn is enough to make ends meet. However, this job is very harsh on the eyes. I have paid a price for my work and my eyes constantly hurt. So I do not wish to encourage my children to practise this trade.”