You should know what is being done
to a watch you care about.
Quartzen structures every job around documentation and clear scope. Here is why that makes a practical difference.
Back to HomeSix things Quartzen does differently
Written scope before work starts
The job description, what will be renewed and the total cost are agreed in writing before any tool touches the movement. The invoice matches the scope document.
Printed timing machine report
Rate readings before and after regulation are printed and sent home with the watch. You have an objective record of where the movement stands, not a verbal summary.
Parts itemised on the service record
Every component renewed — mainspring, gaskets, jewels — is named on the final report. The history of what has been done to a watch should be readable years from now.
Realistic turnaround ranges
Timelines are quoted as working ranges that account for parts sourcing and bench queue. If something changes, the owner is informed before the deadline passes, not after.
Staged photography on commissions
Archive restoration pieces are photographed at each major decision point. Owners can see what was found, what was done and how the final result relates to what arrived.
No surface work without consent
Cases are not polished and dials are not touched unless explicitly requested. On archive pieces, written agreement is required before any surface is approached. Original condition is respected, not corrected.
What each advantage means in practice
Professional expertise — 15+ years at the bench
Chee Wai trained under a senior watchmaker in Kuala Lumpur for ten years before opening Quartzen in 2009. The workshop has since serviced several hundred mechanical movements across Swiss, Japanese and lesser-known calibres. That depth matters when assessing an unfamiliar movement or deciding whether a worn component needs renewal or can run another service interval.
- Trained under a master watchmaker in KL
- Experience across vintage and modern calibres
- Archive commission work handled personally by the founder
Calibrated timing machine and four-bath ultrasonic cleaning
The workshop uses a digital timing machine for all regulated work. Readings are taken in multiple positions and recorded. The four-bath cleaning process — two solvent baths, a rinse and a drying stage — is standard on all full bench services, not a premium add-on. Baths are changed on a fixed maintenance schedule, not when they look dirty.
- Timing machine readings printed on every regulated service
- Four-bath process as standard on full bench work
- Bath maintenance schedule kept independent of workload
Customer communication built into the process
Every intake begins with a conversation about the watch and the owner's intent for it. Scope changes — if a wear surface turns out worse than the intake suggested — are flagged before the extra work is done. On archive commissions, the owner may pause the work at any stage. Communication is part of the service, not a favour.
- Intake assessment conversation before job is priced
- Scope changes communicated before they become charges
- Archive commission clients may pause work at any point
Pricing that reflects the actual work
Service prices at Quartzen are set to account for the time a proper bench job requires. A full service takes five to seven weeks because fourteen days of running time on the bench is part of the standard. Parts — mainsprings, gaskets, jewels — are sourced from established suppliers, not substituted for cheaper alternatives. The price reflects what it actually costs to do the work well.
- Scope-matched pricing agreed before work begins
- Parts sourced from established Malaysian and Singapore suppliers
- No hidden charges — invoice matches the original scope
Documented results, not verbal assurances
When a regulated watch leaves Quartzen, the rate sheet shows where the movement was and where it is now. Six-position timing reports for full bench services provide a complete picture of running accuracy. Archive commissions leave with a photographic record and a written log. These documents are the result, alongside the watch itself.
- Before-and-after rate sheet on all regulated work
- Six-position timing report on full bench services
- Archival record folder on archive commissions
Quartzen vs a typical repair shop
| Feature | Typical Workshop | Quartzen |
|---|---|---|
| Written scope before work | Verbal estimate only | Always in writing |
| Timing machine printout | Rarely provided | Included as standard |
| Parts listed on service record | Invoice only | Each part named |
| Honest turnaround ranges | Often optimistic | Working ranges quoted |
| Consent before surface work | Not always asked | Written agreement required |
| 14-day bench test on full service | Short run only | Standard on full bench |
| Staged photos on restorations | Not typical | At every major stage |
What only Quartzen offers
Grid reference intake — fault mapped to dial region
The workshop's intake process uses a fault-mapping approach: the complaint is matched to the dial region it corresponds to, which points toward the movement area that needs attention. This structures the assessment and avoids unnecessary disassembly.
Archival record folder on restoration commissions
Archive restoration clients receive a printed folder containing the survey, scope document, staged photographs and final timing report. It is a complete history of the commission in a format that can be kept with the watch indefinitely.
Pause option on all archive commissions
Restoration work on a family piece can surface unexpected decisions — whether to replace a missing part with a matched fabrication or source an original, for instance. Quartzen gives clients the ability to pause the commission at any stage while they consider. The work waits; no pressure is applied.
Specialist partner network for dial and lume work
Dial cleaning by a specialist partner is available as part of archive commissions. Sympathetic re-luming in a matched period tone is handled through a trusted network, maintaining the watch's age-appropriate appearance rather than applying a bright modern finish.
Workshop record
15+
Years operating
800+
Movements serviced
3
Service tiers offered
100%
Jobs scoped in writing
Perak Horological Society
Member since 2011 · Mechanical & pocket watch section
CMAO Registered Workshop
Consumer Merchant Artisan Organisation · Malaysia
Ipoh Heritage Craft Directory
Listed since 2017 · Horological services category
Ready to bring your watch in?
Contact the workshop to describe the piece and agree on which service fits. No obligation at intake — assessment comes first.