A quiet place where watches are treated as they deserve
Detik Emas grew from a simple belief — that a watch brought in for repair should come back in better shape than promised, with nothing done that wasn't discussed first.
← Back to HomeHow Detik Emas came to be
Detik Emas — which means "golden second" in Malay — began in the same Lebuh Chulia shophouse where we still work today. The street has been a centre of trade in George Town since the colonial era, and the building itself carries that same unhurried character.
We started small, with a bench, a loupe, and a reputation built one watch at a time. The work suited us. Watch repair requires patience above almost anything else — the patience to look carefully, to explain clearly, and to resist the temptation to rush.
Over the years, the range of pieces we see has widened: quartz watches brought in for routine care, cherished automatics that haven't been opened in a decade, dress watches with bracelets worn soft by daily use. Each one has its own condition and its own story.
What has stayed the same is the approach. Before any work begins, we look at the piece, document what we find, and sit down with the customer to talk through the options. No work proceeds without that conversation.
We are honest when a repair is straightforward and equally honest when it isn't. We tell people when a service won't make economic sense, or when a piece needs a specialist we'd recommend elsewhere. Trust, once broken, doesn't come back.
Our workshop is open five and a half days a week, and the door is always open for a conversation — even if you're just curious about what's ticking inside your watch.
Who you'll meet at the bench
Razif Hamdan
Head Watchmaker
Trained in movement service and regulation, Razif has spent more than fifteen years opening watches with care. He leads the mechanical overhaul work and handles condition assessments for complex pieces.
Siew Lin
Quartz Technician & Customer Liaison
Siew Lin handles quartz battery services and manages customer communication. She translates technical findings into plain language and makes sure every customer leaves with a clear understanding of what was done and why.
Ariff Mansor
Case & Bracelet Specialist
Ariff focuses on the cosmetic work — refinishing cases and bracelets with a careful hand. He has a particular feel for when to stop, knowing that the character of a well-worn piece is often worth preserving.
How we approach our work
Written condition summary
Every piece receives a documented assessment before work begins. You receive a copy, and nothing is added to the scope without your agreement.
Water-resistance pressure test
Included with quartz services as standard. We test to the manufacturer's rated depth where applicable and report the result honestly.
Watchmaker-grade lubricants
We use movement oils and greases appropriate to the specific parts being serviced — not a single general lubricant applied everywhere.
Numbered intake and tracking
Every watch is placed in a numbered tray on arrival and tracked through each stage. A receipt is issued at drop-off and the piece does not leave without it.
Timing regulation and testing
Mechanical watches are rated on a timing machine after service and adjusted until within an acceptable daily deviation before being returned.
Conservative finish philosophy
We remove marks rather than erase character. Brushed surfaces, original engravings, and period patina are treated with consideration.
Watch repair in George Town — what we do and how we do it
Detik Emas is a small workshop. We take this seriously as a point of principle rather than a limitation. A small workshop means the same hands work on your watch from start to finish — there is no production line, no splitting the work across multiple technicians who have never spoken to each other.
George Town's Lebuh Chulia has always been a street where skilled trades set up. Goldsmiths, tailors, and instrument repairers once occupied these same shophouses. We feel a connection to that tradition — not because it makes for a good story, but because it shapes how we work: slowly, carefully, and with the understanding that the piece in front of us matters to someone.
We service quartz watches across a wide range of brands, from everyday everyday wear to dress watches that come out for special occasions. For mechanical movements, we handle both automatic and hand-wound calibres, including older movements from decades past. Bracelet and case care can be done as a standalone service or combined with a movement service for a comprehensive refresh.
Our pricing is clear before work begins. There are no hidden charges for inspections, condition reports, or testing. If the final scope changes from the estimate, we discuss it with you first.
We'd be glad to take a look
Drop by the workshop or get in touch to describe what your watch needs. A conversation costs nothing, and we'll always be straightforward about what we find.
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