George Town · Lebuh Farquhar
A Workshop Built on Careful Practice
Horolume was opened to offer watch owners in Penang a calm, considered alternative — a place where pieces are attended to properly, with full attention and no shortcuts.
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How Horolume Came to Be on Lebuh Farquhar
Horolume started with a simple observation: most watch owners in Penang had no clear place to bring a mechanical piece for a proper service. Battery swaps were easy to find. But for an automatic that had slowed down, or a grandfather's dress watch in need of revival, the options were either unclear or required sending the piece away entirely.
The workshop opened on Lebuh Farquhar in George Town with the intention of filling that gap — not as a high-volume repair counter, but as a small, attentive practice. The name Horolume combines the study of time with the quiet glow of a luminous dial: two ideas that sit comfortably together for anyone who has held a well-made watch under dim light.
We keep the number of jobs in progress manageable so that nothing is rushed. Each owner receives a written note of what was done. For restoration work, we share progress at each stage rather than going silent for weeks. These aren't special extras — they're just how we think the work should be handled.
George Town has a long association with craft and heritage trades. We feel at home in that tradition and try to conduct ourselves accordingly.
Years of combined watchmaking experience in our workshop
Distinct care programmes sized to different watches and needs
Work completed on-site in Penang — your watch stays with us
"We don't take on more than we can attend to properly. That's what keeps the standard steady."
— Horolume Workshop, George Town
The People
Who Looks After Your Watch
Razif Hisham
MASTER WATCHMAKER
Trained in mechanical horology with particular interest in vintage Swiss calibres and hand-wound movements. Leads all movement service and restoration assessments.
Lim Wei Xian
CASE & DIAL TECHNICIAN
Handles case refinishing, bracelet work, and dial examination. Brings a careful hand to the cosmetic side of restoration and pays close attention to period accuracy.
Nora Suhaimi
CLIENT LIAISON
Manages intake, condition documentation, and progress updates for owners. Makes sure no watch leaves without its written summary and that every client stays informed.
How We Work
Standards We Hold Ourselves To
These aren't policies written for a brochure. They're the actual habits that shape how Horolume operates day to day.
Written Documentation
Every job — from a battery swap to a full restoration — receives a written summary of findings and work performed. No guessing after collection.
On-Site Work Only
We don't post watches or sub-contract to other workshops. All work happens in our Lebuh Farquhar premises under the same hands throughout.
Timing Machine Verification
Mechanical movements are checked on a calibrated timing machine after servicing. Accuracy results are included in the condition note.
Appropriate Lubricants
Different parts of a movement require different lubricant viscosities. We use the correct grade for each component rather than a one-product approach.
Period-Correct Sourcing
For vintage restoration, we source parts that match the original era and specification. Modern substitutes are only used when nothing closer is available — and you'd be told.
No Work Without Consent
If something unexpected arises during service, we pause and discuss it with the owner before proceeding. Costs and scope don't change without agreement.
Our Approach
Watch Repair and Timepiece Care in Penang
Watch repair in George Town has always sat within a broader culture of maintained, valued things. Penang's conservation districts are full of buildings and objects kept in use long past when it would have been easier to replace them. Horolume works in that same spirit — attending to timepieces that matter to their owners, regardless of market value.
Mechanical watches in particular reward careful service. A movement that has been properly cleaned and lubricated at the right interval will often outlast several replacements of the cheaper parts fitted to a neglected piece. The work is worth doing when done with attention.
We see a range of timepieces in the workshop — Malaysian-market Seikos and Tissots brought in for their regular service, Swiss dress watches that arrived with a father's estate, Japanese automatics worn daily that need their first proper overhaul. Each has a different story and a different set of requirements. We try to meet them where they are rather than applying a standard formula.
For those who haven't had a mechanical watch serviced before, the process can feel unclear. One aim of the written notes we provide is to demystify it — so you leave understanding what your watch needed, what was done, and what to watch for going forward.
Take the Next Step
Bring Your Watch in for a Look
We're happy to assess your timepiece before you commit to anything. Come in on a weekday morning or send us a note and we'll arrange a time to talk.
Get in Touch