Heaps of colorful necklaces, bangle bracelets and watches fill the window of the tiny shop, Sasha's Watch and Jewelry Repair at 739 Broad Ripple Avenue. If you peer through the window you are likely to see a curly headed man hunched over a bench intent on repairing someone's broken timepiece. Open the door and either owner Tsalya Khitlik or his sister-in-law Nina Zakharchenko will greet you.

The little space is crammed. On both sides are glass cases. The walls are lined with shelves. Goods in one case are not arranged in orderly lines. Instead, watches of every size, color, shape and age imaginable tumble in piles. Wall clocks, desk clocks and alarm clocks perch on the shelves or hang on the walls. A Colts poster displays Indy pride. Another case holds secondhand jewelry. On the counter, assorted watch bands are on a carousel. It doesn't take a detective to figure out that Sasha's repairs and sells multiple brands of watches and clocks. They also deal in used jewelry, so if estate pieces are your style, explore the selection.

Listen to Tsalya and Nina and you will soon realize that this smiling pair has stories that are the largest jewels in the store. Like many people who aren't sure of what they want to do for a living, Tsalya tried many things before he became a watchmaker. In 1954 at the age of 19, he was required to serve time in the Russian army. The military sent him to school to study small mechanical equipment. After going out one night and tipping a few too many with his buddies, his superiors kicked him out of the school. When he left the army in 1957, he went to work for a radio and TV repair company. He was sent to school where he learned his trade from an old watchmaker. The young Russian further increased his expertise by teaching special needs people watch repair so they could make a living. Little did Tsalya know his skills would lead him to Indianapolis, thousands of miles from his homeland.

Time passed and as circumstances unfolded, Tsalya decided to leave his home in the south Ukraine. The watchmaker, his wife Tamara and young son arrived in Italy to await clearance for visas to America. While he was there, his American sponsor came to meet him. The sponsor told him Indianapolis was a good place and the city needed watchmakers. When the Ukrainian family first saw Indy in January, 1977, they were shocked to find the Circle City was bitter cold and blanketed in snow. Tsalya secured a position at Rost Jewelers in Castleton and began building a new life. His son started school and quickly made friends. Ann Fisch, who owned Fisch Jewelers in the Village, lost her watchmaker, so she asked Tsalya to work part-time. Part-time led to full-time. When the next generation wasn't interested in the family business, Ann offered Tsalya part of the space to continue his trade. He remembers her as a good landlady who was upset because a hike in expenses required her to raise the rent $20 a month. Tsalya and Tamara named the shop Sasha's, a popular Russian name. He obtained a license to deal in second hand goods. The couple welcomed a second son into their family and bought a home. The sons grew up and now live in Florida. Four grandchildren were born.

Tamara died in 2004 and Nina was still living in Russia. Getting papers to attend her sister's funeral proved difficult. She missed Tamara's funeral, but kept trying. When she finally immigrated in 2005, she was amazed at the quantity of the food in the grocery stores. Cabbage in Russia was $5 a pound. In the United States it was less than a dollar a pound. She continues to be amazed at how much we waste as a nation. She mentioned in her limited English that food is just thrown away and paper is everywhere. Her blue eyes twinkled as she smiled shyly and told me she takes English lessons every Monday and Friday at Glendale. As I turned to leave, they both said, "We like it here; we like America."

The next time you need a watch repaired or just want a unique piece, try Sasha's. Tsalya Khitlik will be very happy to help you. He may even tell you a story.