Time stands still in Egypt's century-old watchmaker shop

Time seems to have stood still at Papazian's, the Armenian watchmaker shop that has stood in Cairo's Attaba Square since 1903 under the arcade of an old Haussmann-style building built in the downtown district's heyday and currently surrounded by street vendors.

Samy Taha, a 63-year-old Egyptian watchmaker, repairs a watch at the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Ashod Papazian, a 64-year-old Armenian Egyptian watchmaker, poses for a photo outside his family-owned business – the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop – in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Refaat Makary, a 58-year-old Egyptian watchmaker, repairs a watch at the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Karam Iskandar, a 56-year-old Egyptian watchmaker, repairs a watch at the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Samy Taha, a 63-year-old Egyptian watchmaker, repairs a watch at the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Samy Taha, a 63-year-old Egyptian watchmaker, repairs a watch at the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Refaat Makary, a 58-year-old Egyptian watchmaker, repairs a watch at the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Refaat Makary, a 58-year-old Egyptian watchmaker, repairs a watch at the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Ashod Papazian, a 64-year-old Armenian Egyptian watchmaker, poses for a photo at his family-owned business – the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop – in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Samy Taha, a 63-year-old Egyptian watchmaker, repairs a watch at the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Ashod Papazian, a 64-year-old Armenian Egyptian watchmaker, holds a clock as he sits behind the counter at his family-owned business – the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop – in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Ashod Papazian, a 64-year-old Armenian Egyptian watchmaker, holds a clock as he sits behind the counter at his family-owned business – the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop – in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.

Ashod Papazian, a 64-year-old Armenian Egyptian watchmaker, holds a clock as he sits behind the counter at his family-owned business – the Francis Papazian watchmaker's shop – in Attaba district, Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021.