Charles Leblanc has held time in his hands for six decades. Article content

As the world turns digital, he remains one of the few keeping the tradition of mechanical timekeeping alive. At 80, Leblanc continues his craft as a watchmaker from a small shop in Chelmsford, determined to keep working as long as his hands allow. Article content

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A watch does more than tell time, he says. Quite simply, it represents history.

Crafting one requires incredible precision, patience, and skill — an art form mastered by only the most talented hands.

As a boy growing up in the 1950s, owning a watch was a big deal, Leblanc reminisced. Similar to having a television set.

“I remember my mom’s first watch,” he said. “Dad had brought her one for Christmas, and he hid

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