From Those Who Have Been Here
What owners have said after bringing their pieces to the bench.
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Years operating
1,200+
Pieces attended to
4.8
Average satisfaction
94%
Repeat enquiry rate
Owner Reviews
What clients have shared
Zulkifli Ahmad
George Town, Penang
Brought in my father's Seiko 5 that had been sitting in a drawer for fifteen years. Harith took the time to explain what was still serviceable and what was not — straightforward without being discouraging. The quartz module was replaced and the case came back noticeably cleaner. Happy with the result.
April 2025 · Quartz Daily-Wear Service
Pua Li Mei
Butterworth, Penang
I had read a bit about vintage Longines movements before bringing mine in, so I arrived with some questions. The studio engaged with those questions properly rather than just taking the piece. The written report at the end was more detailed than I expected and genuinely useful — I learned things about the calibre I had not known before.
March 2025 · Vintage Movement Conservation
Rajan Narayanasamy
Batu Ferringhi, Penang
The climate storage session was not something I expected to find valuable, but it addressed a real concern. I had three watches stored in a box with silica gel but I was not sure if I was handling it correctly given the AC in my room cycles off overnight. The advice was practical and specific — nothing generic.
April 2025 · Climate Storage Conversation
Nurul Izzati
Kepala Batas, Penang
My grandmother's watch — a small ladies' piece from the 1960s — had not been worn in decades. I was nervous about bringing it somewhere and having someone dismiss it. That did not happen. The studio was careful with the piece, asked about its history, and the conservation was done with visible care. The wait was a few weeks, which was reasonable given what was involved.
February 2025 · Vintage Movement Conservation
Chin Teck Wei
George Town, Penang
I have had batteries changed at shopping mall kiosks before and the service was fast but I always wondered about the gasket. Cengalhor replaced the gasket as part of the programme and checked the case pressure. That small thing makes a difference for a watch I take into the water regularly. Will come back.
April 2025 · Quartz Daily-Wear Service
Sharifah Yusnida
Alor Setar, Kedah
Made the drive from Alor Setar specifically because I could not find somewhere closer that I was confident would handle a vintage piece properly. The experience justified the trip. The communication throughout was clear, and the piece came back in running order with notes I can keep on file. Reasonable process, honest people.
March 2025 · Vintage Movement Conservation
Case Studies
Three pieces and what happened at the bench
Case 01 · Quartz Service
A daily-wear Casio that had lost two minutes per week
Challenge
An owner had noticed gradual time loss on a quartz piece worn daily for eleven years. Previous battery changes had not addressed the issue. The piece had not been formally serviced at any point.
What the Studio Did
Inspection identified a module showing signs of age-related frequency drift. A calibre-appropriate replacement module was sourced and fitted. The caseback gasket was renewed and a pressure check confirmed the case was holding correctly.
Outcome
The watch returned to accurate daily timekeeping. Total time at the studio: six working days. The owner has since had the same piece attended to again two years later for routine battery service.
"I had assumed the module was simply old and nothing could be done. It turns out the right module was still available. A worthwhile conversation."
Case 02 · Vintage Conservation
An Omega Seamaster from 1967 with a worn mainspring barrel
Challenge
An owner had inherited this watch from his uncle and wanted it to run reliably without altering its character. The movement was running but erratically — more than twelve seconds fast per day, declining toward the end of the power reserve.
What the Studio Did
Full disassembly, multi-stage cleaning, inspection of each component. The mainspring was fatigued and the barrel walls showed wear. Period-appropriate references were sourced; the barrel was replaced while the original mainspring — marginally viable — was retained as a reference piece and returned with the watch.
Outcome
Post-service timing across six positions showed a range of +4 to +7 seconds per day — within acceptable range for the calibre at this age. Written report documented every decision. Duration: three weeks.
"The report alone was worth the visit. I now know what was found inside and what was done about it. That matters to me for a piece like this."
Case 03 · Climate Storage Guidance
A collector with seven pieces in varying storage conditions
Challenge
An owner in Penang Hill had noticed slight fogging on one watch crystal after a period of storage during the wet season. He had silica gel in some boxes but not others, and was uncertain whether the desiccant was still active.
What the Studio Covered
The session covered silica indicator replacement cycles, the condensation risks introduced by overnight AC shutoff in an uphill location, appropriate storage box sealing for water-resistant cases versus open-caseback vintage pieces, and two independent suppliers for indicating silica pouches.
Outcome
No fogging has recurred since the changes were made. The owner subsequently brought two pieces in for quartz service after the storage conversation led to a broader interest in his collection's condition.
"The session was forty-five minutes and addressed things I had been getting partially right and partially wrong for years. Good value for what I took away."
Reach the Studio
Contact details
Address
47 Lebuh Acheh
George Town, Penang
Hours
Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm
Sat 10am–2pm
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Thinking of bringing a piece in?
A short enquiry is the right place to start. Describe what you have and what you have noticed, and the studio will be in touch within two working days.
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