Owner Experiences
Pieces Returned Running.
Owners Who Come Back.
Accounts from owners who have left pieces at the Cogspring bench — and what they found when they collected them.
← Back to Home11+
Years Active
340+
Movements Serviced
4.9
Avg. Owner Rating
48
Conversions Done
What Owners Say
Written accounts from clients who brought pieces to the bench between April and May 2025.
Tan Kheng Siang
George Town, Penang
My grandfather's Longines had not moved in thirty years. Rafiq opened it in front of me, explained what he was looking at, and sent photographs throughout the service. Four weeks later it was keeping reasonable time. I had not expected that — I thought the piece might be beyond help. The conversation at intake alone was worth the visit.
Bench service — April 2025
Samsul Hizam
Butterworth, Penang
The conversion project took about ten weeks. I came in twice during that time — once to approve the written plan and once midway when the watchmaker had a question about the crystal. The end result is something I wear daily. The original dial is intact. I would not have thought that possible given the size of the movement.
Wristwatch conversion — May 2025
Nadia Rashid
Kuala Lumpur
I sent the dial in by post from KL. The turnaround was three weeks as quoted. When I opened the package the dial looked as it must have in the 1960s — dust gone, printing intact, no sign it had been touched aggressively. I had asked them not to rелume the hands and they respected that without any further discussion needed.
Dial restoration — April 2025
Lee Pei Wen
Georgetown collector
I collect American railroad grade movements — Hamiltons mostly. Cogspring is one of few places in Malaysia that understands what a 992B needs. The watchmaker knew the calibre without me having to explain it. That is not something I take for granted. The service record they returned with the piece is more thorough than anything I have received elsewhere.
Bench service — March 2025
Mohd Azman
Alor Setar, Kedah
I drove from Alor Setar specifically to bring in my father's watch in person. The intake took about twenty minutes and covered more than I had expected — the watchmaker noted the crystal had a hairline crack that I had not noticed and asked before replacing it. That level of care was evident throughout. The piece now keeps time within a minute a day.
Bench service — May 2025
Yap Wan Ling
Ipoh, Perak
I had three quotes before bringing my Swiss pocket watch to Cogspring. Two of those workshops wanted to polish the case immediately. Rafiq's first question was whether I wanted the case polished — and when I said no, that was the end of the discussion. The work took slightly longer than estimated but they let me know in advance. Good communication throughout.
Bench service — April 2025
Case Studies
Three projects that illustrate how the workshop approaches different types of briefs.
Case Study 01 · Bench Service
A 1908 Waltham That Stopped Running in the 1970s
Challenge
An open-face Waltham 18-size movement, estimated 1908, had not run in approximately fifty years. The owner had no service history. The movement had been stored in a closed case with no humidity control.
Work Performed
Full disassembly and cleaning. The mainspring was fatigued and replaced. One pivot jewel showed wear and was discussed with the owner before sourcing a period-appropriate replacement. Escapement regulated.
Outcome
Movement returned to consistent running order. Rate tested at approximately +15 seconds per day in dial-up position — acceptable for the calibre's age. Owner collected after four weeks.
"I had resigned myself to this being a display piece. Getting it running again felt like a small recovery of something I thought was lost." — Owner
Case Study 02 · Wristwatch Conversion
Wearing a Grandfather's Pocket Movement Daily
Challenge
An IWC pocket movement, circa 1920, in good mechanical condition but no longer in a case. The owner's grandfather had carried it loose for years. The owner wanted to wear it but preserve the original blue-enamel dial.
Work Performed
Written plan prepared, including two case options and photographs of both. Owner selected option B. Movement serviced before fitting. Case sourced, lugs fitted, crystal selected to suit dial size. Rate tested at completion.
Outcome
Completed in ten weeks. The enamel dial is fully intact. The conversion is now worn daily. The owner returned six months later for a second project — a cousin's watch.
"When the plan came through with the photographs I could see exactly what they proposed. Nothing was done I had not agreed to." — Owner
Case Study 03 · Dial Restoration
A Mid-Century Tool Dial Cleaned Without Losing Its Character
Challenge
A 1963 Omega pocket piece used as a desk clock had accumulated surface grime over decades. The owner was concerned about losing the original lume patina, which had aged to a warm cream tone they valued.
Work Performed
Surface dust removed with a soft brush and compressed air before any solvent was applied. Conservative cleaning used on the remaining grime. Lume plots left entirely intact at the owner's explicit instruction. Hands straightened only.
Outcome
Completed in under three weeks. The dial is clean; the patina is unchanged. The owner specifically noted that the workshop understood the instruction and did not second-guess it.
"They did exactly what I asked. No persuading me to rелume, no unsolicited polishing. Exactly what I asked." — Owner
Reach the Workshop
Phone
+60 4-261 8347Address
Lot 8-3A, Lebuh Pantai10300 George Town
Hours
Mon–Fri 10–18
Sat 10–15
Professional Credentials
Horological Society of Malaysia
Active member. The workshop follows HSM professional guidelines for movement servicing, documentation, and client communication.
Heritage District, George Town
Based in Lebuh Pantai — a UNESCO World Heritage zone. Featured in the George Town World Heritage Incorporated newsletter, 2024.
Period Tooling & Reference Library
The bench holds appropriate tools for Swiss, English, and American case standards, alongside period service manuals for reference during assessment.
Your Turn
Bring Your Piece to the Workshop
Describe your watch and what you are hoping to achieve. The watchmaker will respond with an honest assessment of what is possible.
Send an Enquiry