80 Year Old Clock and Watch Shop in Miri

 Where do you go when your watch needs some repairs? Who do you visit when you need advice to buy a new watch as a gift for your father?

Most people in Sibu from my own experience stick to their own watch shop and inadvertently it would a watchshop belonging to their own clansmen. My mother would always repair her watch with one watch shop in Central Road...some she "trusts". So the whole family goes there for the last 30 years. Not that we always buy watches or repair watches. It is just a family "thing".

In Miri and Brunei I bring my custom to one or two watch shop owners too...because there is comfort in familiarity.

So I don't always "wander" into a watch shop so to speak. In case I get "mistreated" or "roughened up"  because I don't know the towkay who is unfamiliar with me. You do get a kind of shock if you are an unfamiliar customer ...but again it really depends on the customer service of the shop.

 It is not often one can stumble on a real treasure. Today I "accidentally" arrived at an old shop and met a very impressive young watch maker. And the old shop is called Cheng Chang  Watch Maker. This shop name reminds me of my 7th Aunt's (and her husband the late Sia Kie Ming's) shop in High Street Sibu (Ching Chiong) situated once opposite the Sarawak Central Cold Storage and Fish Market where so many memories began.

 The first block of shop houses in Miri are all single storeyed allotments. They face the Central Pork Market. It has remained a faithful block of businesses which have been serving Miri for the last 80 - 100 years.

This must be one of the oldest clock and watch shops of Miri. And I am sure many of the first Oil Drillers of Miri must have gone to the proprietor to buy a new watch or to repair a faulty watch.

The shop itself has artifacts which can make any museum proud!!

This sign board is more than 80 years old. It is hand painted on a good white painted wooden board.


This young man is the second generation watch shop owner. He is repairing a watch here.


I am very impressed by this young man who carries his father's passion for watch making and repairs. He is so humble and pleasant. Miri needs more businessmen like him!! His parents have really brought him up well.



A lamp "ordered from England" owned by the original shopkeeper. There are several other old stuff which would make any museum proud!!

And this is a British style deck (canvas) chair - very good for the tropics....Still good after 80 years!! How I wish I can own one like this.

Four thumbs and four hearts for this shop!!

Perhaps one day I will buy a watch from him or send my watch there for repairs.