Balkans | Niksic from Bosnia and Herzegovina is keeping his family’s 112-year-old legacy alive as a watchmaker

Emir Nexic, 36, who has brought his family’s knowledge to the present by keeping the watchmaker’s shop, founded in 1911 by his great-grandfather, who lives in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, believes that commonly used smartwatches do not. spirit.

Niksic, the youngest representative of a 112-year-old family, located near Ferhadiye Street, located in the very heart of Sarajevo, opened the door of his historic shop, where he repairs mechanical watches with “their soul” and “their beating heart,” told the AA correspondent.

Expressing about laying the foundations of the shop in 1911 on the Jewelers Street of Başkarışı, the historical Ottoman market, Niksic said: “My father’s grandfather opened our shop for the first time. At that time, old watches were repaired, bought and sold. Later, my grandfather took up the profession, And it was passed on to my father. I’ve been in this profession since I was 19. He said.

Pointing out that his grandfather decided to move his shop to its current location in 1940, Niksic stated that he represents the fourth generation in the traditional family watchmaking profession.

Niksic said: “I started coming to the store first for pocket money, but over time I liked this job and it started to attract me. Over time, I got fully involved. Although it was less at first, I gradually became more interested in the work. Today We will continue to work with love.” He said.

“Mechanical watches have a soul”

“Time will always be measured as long as humans exist.” Niksic stated that he believes that watch repair will continue constantly, and that the profession is open to innovations and adapts to the current time.

Nexic emphasized that smartwatches do not have a negative impact on their profession and continued as follows:

“People are constantly getting repairs to their old watches. The difference between smart watches and mechanical watches is incomparable. I see smart watches as devices, just like cell phones showing the time. On the other hand, mechanical watches have a soul, as my father always said.”

Noting that he has two children, Niksic stated that if they were interested, he would guide his children into the handed down profession.

AA