Retired watchmaker, Dominique Charlet met his experience in the service of the Emmaüs community in Rouen. He takes care of anything that ticks!

The watches, clocks and clocks sold in the stores of the Emmaüs Community of Rouen (Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville, Petit-Quevilly, Grand-Mare) pass into the expert hands of Dominique Charlet. A well-known retired watchmaker in Rouen where he worked for 40 years, he has met his skills in the service of the association for five years. It remains watchmaking, but it is no longer the craftsman who maintained the watches and clocks of his customers. At Emmaüs, watches arrive by the dozen, anonymously. “I have over 3,000 to sort out! I identify those which can be put on sale, repairable, with French or Swiss movements, or which only need a battery. This is our commitment: a watch is put on sale at the price of a battery change in the trade.“The rarer models, often automatic, are offered at major themed sales in the cabinet of curiosities. “I sort everything: electronic components, plastic, glass, metal. It takes a long time, but it’s essential.” Dominique Charlet works at home, in the basement of his house in Mesnil-Esnard, “often at the end of the day, before dinner. It is a quiet moment, which is useful for the Community. Sales allow companions to live“. Sort, clean, pamper …”But what I prefer is making the missing or damaged parts. And often it is even necessary to manufacture the tool which will make it possible to manufacture the part ! “Dominique Charlet also works half a day a week on the Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville site, where he meets other volunteers who are also specialized in second-hand goods, books, photos, toys …”The atmosphere is very good between the volunteers and the companions. Everyone brings their skills. On mutual aid, on touch with other areas with always the concern to sell the most authentic objects possible.“