He is Singapore’s only authorised cuckoo clock repair specialist – and a ‘restorer of memories’
Still, Cheah is drawn to such impassioned customers precisely for their quirks. For his keen understanding of their inexplicable connection to their clocks, some have said that his price, while not cheap, is “money well spent” – a compliment as rare as a VdS authenticity certification.
Customers are usually willing to pay more for repairs than they paid for the clock. Repairs start from S$160 for a small cuckoo clock without a music box, with the final cost depending on the extent of work needed. At the higher end, a clock’s repair cost once exceeded S$2,000.
While he requires payment upfront, he guarantees a full refund if he’s unable to fix the clock – which he hasn’t needed to do since he started his business.
“Because I’m relatively expensive, I think my price will filter out all those people who feel that the clock is just a clock. Whoever comes to me, usually the clock means something to them. Some may say it out loud, some may not, but who would normally want to pay more for repairs than the clock costs?” he said.
“My tagline is I don’t repair clocks – I look at myself as a restorer of memories. That gives me the motivation to do a good job. The best thing that’s kept me going all these years is the joy I bring to the client.”
And the feeling is mutual.
“Some people play golf, some people go fishing. I repair clocks, and I make money out of it too. When I’m repairing, I feel like I’m in another world. It’s very strange, but that’s the time when I feel the most relaxed. I’m totally at ease,” he shared.
In his cosy studio, barely five steps from the door to his workbench, Cheah enters his zone. He pulls up his toolkit and opens the back of a clock, gently tinkering with its movement. Then the cuckoo bird pops out of its little window. A pair of dancing figurines begins to circle the wooden platform, as the familiar refrain of Edelweiss fills the room.
In the background, a wall of cuckoo clocks ticks in sync.
