The Difference
What You Get When the Work Is Done Properly
Careful servicing, written records, and pricing agreed before anything is opened. These are the things Verge Foliot brings to every piece that comes through the bench.
Back to HomeAt a Glance
What Sets the Bench Apart
Every Service Documented
A written bench note accompanies every returned watch — listing parts renewed, measurements taken, and adjustments made. Not common at this price point.
Assessed Under Magnification First
No work begins without a loupe examination and a confirmed scope. Owners know what will be done and what it will cost before any tool is picked up.
Timing Traces Before and After
Rate, amplitude, and beat error are measured at intake and again on completion. The results form part of the bench note so there is a baseline for comparison at the next service.
Calibre-Specific Lubricants
Different lubricants at the escapement, jewel bearings, and keyless works — matched to what the calibre actually requires, not a single product applied everywhere.
Work Stays on One Bench
All work is carried out at 17 Lorong Toh Aka. No sub-contracting. The same person who assesses the watch services it and returns it.
Pricing Agreed in Writing
Standard service prices are published. Any variation — unusual calibre, non-standard case, additional parts — is communicated and agreed before work continues.
Expertise
Fifteen Years at the Bench
The principal watchmaker at Verge Foliot has worked on movements ranging from basic ETA quartz modules to column-wheel chronograph calibres, with time spent at benches in both Penang and Singapore. That range of experience matters when a non-standard calibre arrives — the assessment is informed by having seen the mechanism before, or something close enough to it.
- Column-wheel and cam-actuated chronograph experience
- Quartz module diagnostics beyond simple cell replacement
- Dial and hand cosmetic work carried out in-house
- Familiarity with vintage and modern calibre documentation
Scope of Experience
Bench Equipment
- Ultrasonic cleaning unit with calibre-specific solvent cycles
- Timing machine with graphical trace output for six positions
- Bench loupe and stereo microscope for fine part inspection
- Dry pressure test equipment for case sealing verification
- Current draw meter for quartz module health assessment
- High-resolution camera system for intake and completion photography
Tools and Process
Equipment That Fits the Work
The bench equipment at Verge Foliot is chosen to match the scope of the three service types offered. A timing machine with six-position trace output is necessary for mechanical chronograph work. A current draw meter is necessary for quartz module assessment. High-resolution photography is necessary for the before-and-after record on refinishing commissions.
None of this is unusual in a well-equipped watch service centre. What is less common is using all of it consistently, on every piece, and including the results in the written record returned to the owner.
Communication
You Know Where Your Watch Is
The intake process involves a conversation about the watch — its history, what it is doing that prompted the visit, and what the owner expects from the service. That conversation shapes the work order, which is agreed before any dismantling begins.
For refinishing commissions, there is a separate written brief process where colour matching samples are presented for approval and the scope is confirmed in writing before anything irreversible is started.
- Work order agreed before any dismantling
- Owner contacted if scope or cost changes
- Written brief for all cosmetic commissions
- Bench note returned with every completed piece
Value
Pricing That Reflects the Work
The three service prices at Verge Foliot — RM 470 for quartz module service, RM 2,340 for chronograph service, and RM 4,180 for dial and hand refinishing — reflect the actual bench time and materials involved in each type of work.
These are not the cheapest prices available in Penang. They are the price of the complete service: the documentation, the multiple measurement stages, the time taken to do the work correctly rather than quickly.
The Difference
Typical Repair Shop vs Verge Foliot
| Feature | Typical Repair Shop | Verge Foliot |
|---|---|---|
| Written bench record | ||
| Timing traces included | ||
| Current draw measured (quartz) | ||
| Calibre-specific lubricants | Varies | |
| Written brief before cosmetic work | ||
| Work done on-premises only | Often sub-contracted | |
| Before-and-after photography | ||
| Scope agreed before work starts | Rarely documented |
What Only We Offer
Distinctive to Verge Foliot
The Bench Note
Every completed service returns with a written note in plain language — not a checkbox form, but a short account of what was found, what was done, and what the measurements showed. Owners often keep these with the watch documentation as a service record.
Written Commission Brief
For refinishing work, the written brief process is formalized: options are presented, colour matching samples are approved, and the scope is signed off by the owner before any irreversible step is taken. This protects both parties and produces better outcomes.
Six-Position Rate Data
Mechanical watches are regulated with timing traces taken in six positions — crown-up, crown-down, crown-left, crown-right, dial-up, and dial-down. The traces from all six positions are included in the bench note so the owner has a complete performance picture.
Conservative Options Available
For owners who want to preserve original character — aged lume, honest wear, period patina — conservative cleaning that stops short of full refinishing is available as a distinct option rather than a compromise version of the full commission.
Track Record
Milestones and Recognitions
340+
Watches serviced
15
Years of bench experience
3
Service specialisations
100%
On-premises work
Penang Heritage Craft Recognition
August 2025
Included in the Penang Heritage Commission's directory of active heritage craft practitioners in the George Town heritage zone.
WOSTEP-Referenced Training
Completed 2013
Principal watchmaker's foundational training follows WOSTEP-referenced curriculum standards for movement servicing and regulation.
Penang Watch Collectors Network
Member since 2018
Active member of the informal collector network that meets quarterly in George Town to discuss calibres, servicing practices, and the local watch market.
Put It in Writing
The Work Speaks for Itself. The Notes Prove It.
Send an enquiry with the make, model, and what you are hoping to achieve. We will confirm scope and turnaround before anything is agreed.
Request a Bench Appointment