Our Story
Started with curiosity.
Stayed for the craft.
Verge Atelier grew from a single bench in Kota Kinabalu — set up by a watchmaker who'd spent his formative years learning movement servicing in Penang before returning to Sabah. The name references the verge escapement, one of the earliest mechanisms used to regulate a clock's movement. It felt right for a workshop that values the older ways of working, even as the tools around them have improved.
In the years since, the atelier has grown steadily through word-of-mouth. We don't advertise aggressively and we don't take on more than we can serve well. The workshop handles everyday quartz pieces with the same attention given to a collector's vintage Seiko or a family heirloom with no paperwork and faded hands.
Our position on Jalan Gaya — one of Kota Kinabalu's oldest commercial streets — reflects something deliberate. We want to be the kind of place a person can walk into with a question and leave with a clear sense of what their watch needs and what it will cost.
Our Mission
Care that outlasts the service.
Most watches come to us because something has stopped working. But the reason a person holds onto a watch rarely has much to do with whether it keeps time. We've come to understand that the care taken during a service shapes how long it will be before the piece needs attention again — and how well it holds its character through the work.
Our approach is straightforward: assess the piece properly, explain what's there, and do only what the watch needs. No upselling, no unnecessary work, no refinishing that removes what the years have built in.
We send each piece back with a written account of what was done — so the next watchmaker who opens it, whether here or elsewhere, knows exactly what they're working with.
The Workshop
The people behind the bench
Razlan Musa
Principal Watchmaker
Trained in movement servicing in Penang, Razlan has worked on mechanical and quartz calibres for over fifteen years. He leads all mechanical restoration work and antique assessments at the atelier.
Siti Lailani
Technician & Case Specialist
Siti focuses on case and bracelet work — polishing, refinishing, and the careful matching of period-correct components for collector pieces. She joined Verge Atelier in 2019 after several years at a jewellery restoration studio.
Johan Thambi
Workshop Manager
Johan oversees intake, scheduling, and the written records that accompany every completed service. He's the first point of contact for most clients and ensures each piece is tracked accurately throughout its time in the workshop.
Standards & Practice
How we work
The way a service is conducted matters as much as the outcome. These are the standards we hold ourselves to.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
All mechanical movement parts are cleaned using an ultrasonic bath before reassembly — removing old oils and particulate that hand-cleaning alone cannot reach.
Timing Machine Verification
After servicing, each mechanical movement is tested on a timing machine across multiple positions. We aim for performance within reasonable tolerances before returning the piece.
Pressure Testing
Water-resistant pieces are pressure-tested after any service that involves opening the case — we replace seals and gaskets as a matter of course when servicing the movement.
Written Service Records
Every piece leaves the workshop with a document noting what was inspected, what was replaced, and what the watchmaker observed. A copy is kept on file at the atelier.
Secure Custody
Pieces in our care are stored in individually labelled trays in a locked cabinet when not on the bench. We carry trade insurance for items under active work in the workshop.
Consent Before Work
We assess before we touch. If the scope of work or the cost is different from what was expected at intake, we contact the owner before proceeding — no exceptions.
Workshop Philosophy
On the value of a well-kept watch
Mechanical watchmaking is one of the older precision crafts still in daily use. A movement that was assembled in the 1960s — cleaned, oiled, and adjusted properly — will run with the same character it had when new. The tolerances are measured in fractions of a millimetre. The lubricants have an expected service life. Understanding when and how to intervene is what distinguishes careful watchcare from well-meaning damage.
At Verge Atelier, our work draws on this tradition without treating it as a performance. We use the equipment that the job requires — timing machines, ultrasonic baths, regulated lubricants — because doing so produces better outcomes, not because it looks impressive. For collector pieces and antique movements, we take a conservative approach: cleaning and adjusting where needed, replacing only what must be replaced, and preserving original patina and components where the watchmaker's intention is still evident in the piece.
The timepiece industry in Malaysia has grown substantially over the past decade. Kota Kinabalu, in particular, has developed a population of collectors and enthusiasts who understand the difference between a watch that looks clean and one that runs correctly. Verge Atelier exists to serve that understanding — with plain language, careful work, and a record of everything that passes through the workshop.
Let's talk
Bring your timepiece in.
An initial assessment carries no obligation. We'll look at the piece, tell you what we find, and let you decide what happens next.
Arrange an Assessment