THE STUDIO
Patience Over Speed, Precision Over Volume
oranguta was established to give mechanical watches the unhurried attention they require — not a production line, but a considered practice.
← Back to HomeOUR STORY
How the Bench Began
oranguta opened its doors along Lebuh China in the Melaka old quarter after years of work at independent repair counters across the peninsula. The name reflects the brass fittings that line the workbench and the quiet lane-side character of the studio's surroundings.
The studio handles a small number of pieces at any given time. This is a deliberate choice. Movement work, particularly overhauls, benefits from the kind of focused attention that only comes when a watchmaker is not managing a backlog of fifty watches. A piece that enters the bench is the piece on the bench.
Melaka's heritage district attracts collectors and travellers who carry watches with histories attached. Some pieces have not been serviced in decades. Others have been passed down through families. The studio treats each one with a respect for its individual context, not merely its mechanical condition.
OUR APPROACH
The Bench Practice
Every piece that arrives is given a written intake card. Before any tools are picked up, an estimate is prepared and shared. Work proceeds only once the owner has agreed. This is not unusual in a good repair studio, but it bears stating: no surprises arrive with the collection invoice.
The studio holds that restoration and refinishing are different things. Where a surface shows the honest wear of decades of use, the preference is to clean and preserve rather than abrade and repolish. An aged patina on a case is not a defect. It is part of the piece's record.
Overhaul work concludes with a written report. This document describes what was disassembled, what was renewed, and the timing figures recorded before and after adjustment. Owners take it home as part of the watch's service history.
STUDIO MISSION
"To carry out careful, informed work on mechanical watches and their bracelets — returning each piece to its owner in better condition than it arrived, with a clear account of what was done."
THE PEOPLE
Behind the Bench
Rashid Azmi
Principal Watchmaker
Carries out calibre overhauls and intake assessments. Has worked with mechanical movements for over fifteen years across Kuala Lumpur and Penang before settling in Melaka.
Nadia Fauzi
Bracelet & Case Technician
Specialises in vintage bracelet repair and case cosmetic work. Handles ultrasonic cleaning, pin replacement, and surface restoration with attention to period-correct finishing.
Chow Kin Wai
Studio Assistant & Records
Manages intake, customer correspondence, and service records. Ensures each piece is documented carefully and owners are kept informed throughout the service period.
STANDARDS
How the Studio Works
Written Estimates
A costed estimate is prepared at intake and confirmed before work starts. No charge is incurred without the owner's prior agreement.
Calibration Equipment
Timing results are measured on a calibration stand across multiple positions. Figures are recorded and shared with the owner in the work report.
Multi-Stage Cleaning
Movement components are processed through a multi-stage bath using watch-grade cleaning fluids. Ultrasonic cleaning is used for bracelets and case exteriors.
Surface Preservation
Polishing and refinishing are discussed and agreed with the owner before any surface work. Original finishes are retained wherever the owner prefers.
Secure Storage
Pieces in care are held in a locked cabinet during non-working hours. The studio is not a retail floor; access is limited to bench staff during servicing.
Service Documentation
Overhaul work is accompanied by a written report. The owner receives a copy at collection — a record that travels with the watch for future reference.
ABOUT OUR WORK
Watch Repair and Restoration in Melaka
oranguta operates from a studio in Lebuh China, within the UNESCO World Heritage zone of Melaka. The location reflects the studio's character: a place where old things are tended to carefully, within surroundings that have themselves endured for centuries.
Mechanical watch servicing in Malaysia has become more accessible in recent years, yet the craft remains one that rewards patience and a careful hand. The overhaul of a Swiss or Japanese movement requires not only the correct tools and lubricants but also an understanding of how a particular calibre was designed to behave — tolerances, beat rate, jewelling layout. This knowledge accumulates through years of working with a range of movements, not through a single training course.
The studio works with watches brought in by their owners and is also able to receive pieces by registered post from elsewhere in Malaysia. Prior contact is appreciated so that intake can be arranged properly. The bench does not rush pieces through and does not promise what cannot be delivered. If a service is outside the studio's scope, the owner will be told directly rather than have the piece returned in worse condition.
Vintage bracelet work is an area that receives less attention than movement servicing at many counters. oranguta treats bracelet repair with the same seriousness as movement work. A bracelet that sits correctly on the wrist and opens reliably changes the daily experience of wearing a watch considerably.
BRING YOUR WATCH IN
The Bench Welcomes Enquiries
Whether you have a question about a specific service or wish to bring a piece in for assessment, the studio is open Tuesday to Saturday.
Send an Enquiry