Client Experiences
Collected here are accounts from clients who have brought watches to the workshop — some for straightforward services, some for pieces with particular significance.
Back to Home14
Years in Operation
2,400+
Movements Serviced
4.8
Average Client Rating
100%
Condition Notes Issued
Client Reviews
Ahmad Razif
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
"Brought in my father's old Seiko 5 that had been sitting in a drawer for years. The team at Horolium gave it a full mechanical service and it has been running well since — keeping time much better than I expected from a watch that age. The condition note explained everything clearly."
Mechanical service — April 2025
Lee Yi Shan
Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
"I had a quartz dress watch that was eating through batteries in a few months. Rajan diagnosed a faulty module and replaced it — the watch has now gone nine months on the same battery. The turnaround was about a week, which was fine. Communication was clear and the intake process felt organised."
Quartz module service — March 2025
Noraini Kamarudin
Shah Alam, Selangor
"Sent my late husband's dress watch for refinishing — it had been sitting unworn because the scratches made it difficult to look at. What came back was recognisably the same watch but without the damage. They matched the original brushed finish precisely. Worth every ringgit."
Case refinishing — April 2025
Tan Kian Wei
Ipoh, Perak — posted in
"I'm based in Ipoh and sent the watch by courier after emailing to confirm the process. The intake receipt came back by email the same day they received it. The mechanical service took about four weeks, which was exactly what they told me. The timing data in the condition note was a nice touch — I could see what it was doing before and after."
Mechanical service — February 2025
Priya Subramaniam
Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur
"Had a quartz watch that stopped working completely. Thought it might be the module. Horolium confirmed the module had failed and sourced an equivalent. The price was fair and they explained what they were installing. Only reason for four stars rather than five is the wait for the replacement part, which took an extra week — though they did keep me informed throughout."
Quartz module replacement — March 2025
Mohd Hafizuddin
Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
"Brought a vintage automatic that had not run properly in years. The team was honest about the limitations — some parts took time to source and they called before proceeding. The watch now runs cleanly and the bracelet refinishing they did alongside looked correct for the period of the piece. Small workshop, careful work."
Mechanical service + refinishing — January 2025
Case Studies
Challenge
The client's everyday mechanical watch had been running noticeably fast for several months. A previous battery replacement at a shopping mall counter had not addressed the problem — because the watch was mechanical, not quartz.
Solution
Pre-service vibrograph showed a rate of +42 sec/day and an amplitude of 198° — low for a healthy movement, suggesting the mainspring was losing tension early. Full disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, and calibre-spec lubrication were completed. The escapement was adjusted during reassembly. No new parts were required.
Result
Post-service vibrograph: +4 sec/day, amplitude 268°. The client noted the difference within the first day of wear. The condition note documented both baseline and post-service figures. Timeline: 3.5 weeks from intake to collection.
"I had no idea the shop I went to first had given it a battery. The condition note was the first time anyone explained what was actually wrong."
Challenge
A stainless steel sports watch arrived with its bracelet heavily scratched — cross-hatching from normal wear, particularly on the centre links. The client was concerned that refinishing would produce a watch that looked polished to an inappropriate shine.
Solution
The original finishing was documented: brushed centre links, polished bevelled edges. The centre links were worked with progressive grits in the direction of the original brushing, restoring the satin texture without removing the character of the metal. Bevelled edges were polished separately. Spring bars replaced. Clasp inspected, one tooth replaced.
Result
The bracelet was returned looking maintained rather than repolished — the appropriate outcome for a sports piece. The client wore the watch within hours of collection. Timeline: 2 weeks. The piece did not require a mechanical service, which kept the total cost to the refinishing rate.
"It looks like it just came back from a service, not like someone put it on a polishing wheel."
Challenge
A client brought in a 1970s dress watch with an obscure Swiss lever movement. The calibre manufacturer had ceased production decades earlier and no official service documentation could be located.
Solution
The client was informed upfront that documentation was unavailable, and that lubrication grades would be selected from established watchmaking references for the period and movement type. The scope was agreed before work began. One worn pivot was identified during assessment and the parts situation discussed honestly — a compatible pivot from a donor movement was sourced at an additional agreed cost.
Result
Post-service rate: +7 sec/day, amplitude 242°. The movement ran reliably on the first day of wear. Total timeline: 6 weeks including parts sourcing. The client appreciated the early disclosure about the documentation gap and the cost structure. The condition note included notes on the pivot replacement and the lubricants used.
"They called me before spending on the parts. I said go ahead. The watch came back running properly for the first time in years."
Find the Workshop
Telephone
+60 3-2274 8639Address
27 Jalan Tun Sambanthan
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Workshop Hours
Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 18:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 15:00
Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed
Professional Credentials
Malaysian Horological Society — Workshop Standards Recognition (2016)
Awarded for consistent adherence to professional service documentation and in-house work standards.
Swiss-trained founding watchmaker
Apprenticeship completed in Geneva before the establishment of Horolium in Kuala Lumpur in 2011.
PDPA 2010 Compliant
Client data handled in accordance with Malaysia's Personal Data Protection Act 2010.
Malaysian Retailers Association — Member
Professional trade membership supporting ethical business conduct in the retail service sector.
Your Watch Next
An enquiry costs nothing. Describe the piece and what you have observed and we will respond with an honest view of what the service involves and what it costs.
Send an Enquiry