A clock fanatic from Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta has become known for one of the world’s largest collection of antique clocks and watches.
Gul Kakar, 44, has been collecting antique watches and clocks from different countries, and they date back to as far as 1850.
From delicate wristwatches and weighty pocket pieces to a 7-foot-tall grandfather clock and a 2-inch-long pocket watch, Kakar has an enormous collection of vintage timepieces tucked carefully in a small room in the city’s police headquarters compound.
“I love my antique clocks … I love their natural sound,“ the police officer said. ”I have clocks from England, Germany, France, the USA, and Holland. It is my personal collection. Every clock has its own value, especially the grandfather clocks.”
As a student, Kakar used to collect small radios. But his obsession of collecting clocks only began 18 years ago, when two family clocks broke and were sent to be repaired.
“It was then that I thought of starting collecting clocks,” he said.
For nearly two decades, he has bought vintage clocks through friends in other countries and scoured the internet for antiques.
“I bought all of them, none have been received as gifts,” he said. “I never buy the clocks from auctions as it is very expensive, but I have friends overseas who collect and ship.”
The father-of-three said he has so many clocks that he has lost count of his collection as well as how much he has spent over the years.
“Antiques don’t have an owner, they have caretakers, and until my life is over, I will take care of these with love,” Kakar said.
He also shared that since having these clocks, he now knows their language.
Apart from clocks he also has an enviable collection of radios, antique oil lamps, gramophones, and telescopes dating back to the 1880s—two of which he is willing to donate to the British Museum.
“I have a T. Cooke & Sons York telescope made in England 1880 with original teak box and wooden stand and Negretti & Zam London 1901,“ Kakar said. ”I want to donate these two to the British Museum.”
