From Our Clients
What Watch Owners in Penang Have to Say
A selection of accounts from people who've brought their timepieces through our door — everyday wearers, collectors, and those with a watch that carries family history.
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Years of workshop experience
Average client satisfaction
Work completed in-house
Client Reviews
Their Words, Unedited
Tan Lee Hin
George Town, Penang
Brought in my father's old Seiko 5 — it had been sitting in a drawer for probably fifteen years. They checked it over, explained what was needed, and came back to me with a written quote before touching anything. The movement service brought it back to keeping reasonable time. The condition note they handed over on collection was genuinely thorough.
Movement Service · June 2025
Nurul Rashidah
Bayan Lepas, Penang
I wasn't expecting much from what seemed like a simple battery change, but the way they handled it — checking the gaskets, cleaning the case properly, adjusting the bracelet — made it feel like a proper service rather than a five-minute swap. Watch came back looking noticeably better too. Will come back when it needs the full service.
Dial-Ready Refresh · June 2025
Chan Ming Fatt
Pulau Tikus, Penang
Had my Tissot PRX serviced here. The timing machine results they shared showed the movement was adjusted to well within acceptable range — something I wouldn't have known to ask for elsewhere. Only note: turnaround was a day longer than initially estimated, though they did let me know in advance. Solid workshop overall.
Movement Service · May 2025
Suresh Krishnan
Georgetown, Penang
I collect mid-century Swiss dress watches and have always been wary about where to send them. Horolume was recommended through a small collector group. The Keepsake Restoration on a 1960s piece I acquired took six weeks, and the progress notes they sent were reassuring — you could tell actual care was going into it. The result was better than I'd hoped.
Keepsake Restoration · May 2025
Azizah Mohd Nor
Penang Hill area
My grandmother's watch had been unwearable for years — the crown had seized and the crystal was fogged. I didn't want to risk it with someone who wasn't careful. Horolume was transparent from the start about what could and couldn't be done, and they found a period-appropriate crown that I wouldn't have known existed. It runs now. That's all I wanted.
Keepsake Restoration · June 2025
Wong Jian Wen
Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Reasonable service. Brought in a Japanese automatic — Orient — for its first full movement service. The process was explained clearly and the paperwork they gave on collection was more detailed than expected. Cost matched the quote. Nothing flashy about the experience, which I mean as a compliment — just a proper job done properly.
Movement Service · July 2025
Case Studies
Three Watches, Three Different Journeys
CASE STUDY 01
A Handed-Down Automatic That Hadn't Run in Eight Years
CHALLENGE
A client brought in her late father's automatic — a 1980s Swiss piece — that had stopped running years earlier. She wasn't sure if it was worth the cost of a full service or whether the movement was too far gone to recover.
APPROACH
We opened the movement for assessment and found the lubricants had dried out and a few small components needed attention. We quoted the Movement Service and, on agreement, carried out a full teardown, clean, and re-oiling with appropriate grades.
OUTCOME
The watch returned to running within an acceptable rate deviation after timing machine adjustment. The client collects it next to a condition note detailing the timing readings — the watch is now worn daily.
"I didn't think it would actually work again. The note they gave me explaining what had been done meant a lot — it felt like someone had taken care of something important."
Movement Service · 12 working days
CASE STUDY 02
Vintage Swiss Dress Watch — Finding a Missing Crown
CHALLENGE
A collector brought in a 1960s Swiss dress watch with a missing crown — the previous owner had replaced it with a non-matching piece that sat awkwardly and didn't grip well. The original crown thread size was uncommon.
APPROACH
We identified the thread specification and sourced an era-appropriate replacement crown from a specialist supplier. The full Keepsake Restoration included movement service, light case brushing to even the original finish, and dial stabilisation.
OUTCOME
Sourcing took two weeks. The completed watch ran accurately on the timing machine and the crown matched well enough that the client noted it was the closest he'd seen to original specification on that reference.
"The staged updates during the restoration were genuinely useful. Knowing where things stood every couple of weeks made a long project much easier to sit with."
Keepsake Restoration · 6 weeks
CASE STUDY 03
Everyday Quartz — Simple Refresh, Clear Outcome
CHALLENGE
A client's daily-worn quartz had stopped and the bracelet had developed loose links. She'd been putting off getting it looked at for months, unsure of the cost and process.
APPROACH
The Dial-Ready Refresh covered a new battery cell, seal inspection, case and crystal clean, and bracelet adjustment to remove the play in the loose links. Completed in two working days.
OUTCOME
Watch returned running, clean, and fitting properly. She noted the brief written summary was useful — she hadn't known that seal checks were part of what happens when a battery is replaced correctly.
"Quick and straightforward. I expected it to be more complicated or more expensive. The written note explaining what they'd done was a nice touch I didn't anticipate."
Dial-Ready Refresh · 2 working days
Find Us
Horolume Workshop, George Town
3A, Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Mon–Fri: 10am–6pm | Sat: 10am–3pm
Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed
Walk-ins are welcome for assessments on most mornings. For restoration consultations, calling ahead or sending a note helps us give you proper time.
Send an EnquiryCredentials
Professional Standing
Horological Society of Malaysia — Affiliated
Supporting professional watchmaking standards and ongoing skill development across Malaysia.
Penang Heritage Craft Network
Recognised as a craft practitioner maintaining traditional standards within George Town's conservation context.
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Whether it needs a battery or a full restoration, we're glad to take a look and give you an honest view of what it requires.
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