The Brand:

Timecentre’s journey began in Germany, where Kerstin Christiansen pursued her passion for watchmaking by completing a 3-year qualification in 1979. She went on to achieve a Masters qualification in her craft in 1983.

In 1985, Kerstin and her husband, Wolfgang Schwarz opened the doors of their first shop in the small east German town of Burgstädt. Kerstin, with her love for the intricate parts of time measurement, specialised in the repair and servicing of watches. After Wolfgang completed his qualification in 1987, he went on to serve the business by focusing on bigger clocks and the maintenance of their movements.

In 1999, the couple took a joint step in emigrating to Margate, South Africa. Here, they once again took up their trade, starting out by working from their home. In 2003 Wolfgang and Kerstin opened Timecentre in Margate CBD, later expanding and moving the shop to South Coast Mall in Shelly Beach in 2005.

Their son, Deni, joined the family business in 2006, learning the trade and forming an invaluable part of the business ever since. His own wife, Rashka, followed suit in 2016.

The community who has come to know the family was deeply moved by the tragic loss of Wolfgang, following a motorcycle accident in 2019. His legacy, however, will live on through his son, who has devoted himself to keeping this special family institution alive for many years to come.