MEET THE TIMEKEEPER

Watchmaking is a craft that is fading into oblivion. In Prijedor, it persists thanks to a handful of artisans, among whom is Igor Bakaj.

PHOTO: Evanto

The sole watchmaker in the town on the Sana River repairs alarm clocks and timepieces and refuses to let time steal his craft.

As a boy, during summer vacations, he would go to his father's workshop and learn the trade of a watchmaker.

The shop, opened in 1985, continues to operate to this day, thanks to Igor's determination and perseverance in upholding the family tradition and craft.

- The first task he gave me was to disassemble alarm clocks because, at that time, there were plenty of them, and that's where I started. Later, when I mastered that, I moved on to wristwatches, and that's how it all began, said Bakaj.

Igor has been repairing watches for 18 years. People come from all over. On average, more than 30 customers visit the shop daily, and they keep coming back for years.