Our Workshop · Our Approach
The Workshop
Behind the Name
Tukang Warisan was set up in Bangsar in 2008 with one bench, a modest set of tools, and a clear idea of what good watch repair ought to feel like.
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The workshop began when its founder, having trained under a retired German watchmaker in Penang for seven years, decided the Klang Valley lacked a repair house that treated every piece — not only the expensive ones — as worth doing properly. The name, which translates loosely as "craftsman of heritage," was chosen deliberately.
For the first few years, work came mainly by word of mouth. Clients brought in pieces their parents had worn, or watches that had sat in drawers since the 1980s. The workshop earned a quiet reputation for being honest about what a movement needed, and for not overselling work that was not warranted.
Over time the client base widened. Collectors began arriving with more complex calibres — vintage Swiss automatics, early Japanese movements, the occasional English fusee pocket watch. Each one was handled according to the same principle: open it carefully, understand what it needs, and write down what was done.
Today the workshop sits at the same address on Lorong Maarof where it has been since 2012. The tools are better. The records go back fifteen years. The approach has not changed.
Founded
2008
Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
Current Address
Lorong Maarof
59000 Kuala Lumpur
Specialisations
- Mechanical & automatic movements
- Vintage calibre service
- Conservation restoration
The People at the Bench
Ahmad Hafiz
Master Watchmaker & Founder
Trained in Penang and Augsburg. Holds WOSTEP certification with advanced calibre regulation. Leads all conservation work and complex diagnostics.
Suraya Lim
Second Watchmaker
Ten years at the bench with a focus on Japanese and Swiss automatics. Handles the majority of standard service work and routine maintenance visits.
Rajan Nair
Workshop Assistant & Records
Manages intake, client correspondence, and the workshop ledger. Also handles case polishing and bracelet work under watchmaker supervision.
Standards We Work To
WOSTEP-Trained Staff
Both watchmakers hold formal horological qualifications from accredited programmes. Calibre-specific training is refreshed as movements evolve.
Written Records for Every Watch
Every piece receives an intake card and a service record. Clients receive a copy at collection. The workshop retains records for seven years.
Secure Handling
All watches are tagged on arrival, stored in a locked cabinet when not on the bench, and covered by the workshop's contents insurance during the service period.
Calibre-Specific Lubricants
The workshop uses Moebius lubricant grades matched to each movement's specification. Lubricants are stored to manufacturer conditions and replaced on schedule.
Scope Agreement Before Work Begins
No work begins without the client's written or verbal agreement on scope. Additional discoveries during service are communicated before any extra work is undertaken.
Client Data Privacy
Contact details and service histories are held privately and not passed to third parties. The workshop operates in accordance with Malaysia's Personal Data Protection Act 2010.
Horological Care in the Klang Valley
A mechanical watch is a system of interdependent parts, each of which depends on the others being in good order. Oil breaks down over time, gaskets harden, and keyless works develop play. Left unattended, these small deteriorations compound. The results — a gaining rate, a slipping crown, an intermittent stop — are often puzzling to the owner but straightforward to a watchmaker who has seen the same movement many times.
Tukang Warisan works with both contemporary and older calibres. The bench has seen movements from the major Swiss houses alongside obscure Japanese ebauches, Malaysian-market pieces from the 1970s, and pocket watches whose brands no longer exist. The variety keeps the work interesting and the diagnostic skills sharp.
The workshop's location in Bangsar puts it within reach of clients across Petaling Jaya, Cheras, Ampang, and the city centre. Many arrive in person; others send pieces by tracked courier after a brief correspondence. Both arrangements work well, and neither requires a commitment before the watchmaker has had a chance to assess the movement.
The workshop does not rush. A standard service takes two weeks because that is the honest time needed to do the work properly — including observation after regulation, which reveals whether the rate is stable across temperatures. Conservation restorations take longer still, and no apology is made for that.
A Question Is Always Welcome
Whether you are not sure which service applies, or simply want to know whether a piece is worth working on, write or call. There is no charge for an initial conversation.
Write to the Workshop