What Customers Say About the Bench.
Accounts from customers who have used Pendulia's diagnosis, service, and dial restoration work. Georgetown, Penang and beyond.
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Sent in my grandfather's Seiko 5 — a sentimental piece, not a valuable one. The workshop treated the diagnosis the same way they would a more expensive watch. The written report described exactly what was worn, what the timing rate was, and what the three service options would cost. I appreciated that they didn't push me toward the most expensive path.
My husband's Rolex was losing about two minutes a day. Pendulia did the full movement service. The written record they returned with it shows the timing rate before — minus 128 seconds per day in crown-down — and after: minus 4 seconds in the same position. That number is something I can point to when the next service is due.
Drove up from Ipoh with a Longines that had lacquer crazing on the dial. The condition report was thorough — described what was original, what was aged, and what the stabilisation option would involve. I chose to leave the dial as it was after reading it. The watchmaker didn't argue. The turnaround for just the diagnosis was six working days.
Had two watches serviced here over the past two years — a Tudor Black Bay and an ETA-based Tissot. Both came back with the written timing records. The Tudor's mainspring was replaced; they called before sourcing the part. Small detail, but it matters. The workshop atmosphere is calm and businesslike without being unfriendly.
My father left me a Zenith with a painted dial in early stages of deterioration. The report from Pendulia was the most careful document I've received from any craftsperson — it explained what would happen if nothing was done, what stabilisation would and wouldn't address, and what full restoration would change. It read like a conservation professional wrote it.
Brought in an Omega Seamaster for a complete service. The wait was about five weeks — reasonable given what the work involves. The witschi readings before and after made the result concrete: the deviation dropped from roughly 40 seconds per day to under 6. The diagnosis fee was credited as stated. One small note: the workshop doesn't offer walk-in progress updates, which is fine once you know to expect it.
Three Bench Engagements in Detail
The Challenge
Rolex Date with erratic rate
A 1971 Rolex DateJust brought in by a collector based in Kuala Lumpur. The watch was gaining between 80 and 140 seconds daily depending on wearing position. The customer had been told by a previous workshop that the movement was "running as expected for its age."
The Service
Bench diagnosis showed worn cannon pinion and dried-out escapement lubrication. Written report issued with a tiered estimate. Customer approved the complete service. Disassembly, cleaning, new cannon pinion and keyless works parts, fresh lubrication, five-position regulation.
The Outcome
Post-service timing: +4 seconds per day in crown-up position. The service record documents both the pre- and post-service witschi readings across five positions. Duration: 5 weeks. The customer subsequently sent a second piece from his collection.
"The first workshop I've used that gave me numbers rather than impressions."
The Challenge
Vintage Omega with crazing dial
A 1960s Omega Constellation with a lacquer dial showing spider-web crazing across the lower third. The owner was aware of the condition but unsure whether to address it. She had been offered an outright dial replacement by another service centre.
The Assessment
Pendulia's dial condition report documented the crazing as stable — not progressing — and noted that the printing and applied hour markers were intact. The report recommended stabilisation using reversible conservation materials, and noted that a dial replacement would eliminate all original surface material. The customer was presented all three paths clearly.
The Outcome
Customer selected stabilisation. Off-site specialist work carried out over eight weeks. The crazing was arrested; the original surface was retained. No new crazing has appeared in the 14 months since return. The report and photographs form part of the piece's ownership record.
"The report told me things about my watch I hadn't known. That alone was worth the cost."
The Challenge
Tissot stopped during travel
A Tissot T-Classic with an ETA 2824-2 movement, recently stopped unexpectedly in the owner's luggage during a flight. The customer suspected impact damage. He was travelling and needed a reliable assessment in Penang before deciding whether to continue wearing the watch.
The Diagnosis
Bench diagnosis found no impact damage. The balance staff was intact. The root cause was a mainspring that had reached end-of-service life — the coil had lost tension uniformly, suggesting normal fatigue rather than sudden failure. This was noted in the condition report with photographs of the unwound mainspring.
The Outcome
Customer approved a complete service. Mainspring replaced; full clean and lubrication. Post-service timing showed +5 seconds per day. The customer collected the watch within four weeks. The RM 750 diagnosis fee was credited against the service invoice. He confirmed the watch kept accurate time throughout the subsequent six months.
"Straightforward to deal with. The written estimate meant there were no questions about what I was agreeing to."
Workshop Contact Details
10050 Georgetown
Penang
Professional Standing
NAWCC Affiliate
National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors affiliate member since 2013. Access to technical archives for calibre-specific service data.
Malaysian Horological Society
Participating member. Attends annual technical sessions and maintains connections with other independent horologists in the region.
Swiss-Trained Watchmaker
Principal watchmaker trained in Zurich 2004–2007. Workshop practice built directly on that formal foundation, without intermediate mass-service employment.
Add Your Watch to the Bench Queue.
Every engagement begins with a written diagnosis. Send the calibre reference and a brief description. The workshop will confirm availability and scope.
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