A Bench Built on Patience.
Escapement Row was set up to fill a specific gap: a workshop in Kuala Lumpur where the craftsmen have time to do the job right, the records follow the watch, and the owner is kept in the picture at every stage.
← Back to HomeWhy We Opened on Jalan Kia Peng
Escapement Row opened in 2018 after its founder, Rajan Subramaniam, spent eleven years at the service counters of larger retail watchmakers in the city. He noticed a pattern: complex mechanical work was routinely sent abroad, turnaround times were quoted in months without explanation, and owners received their watches back with a receipt rather than a record of what had actually been touched.
The workshop on Level 8 of Wisma Cheng Ann was conceived as a correction to that pattern. A small bench with capacity for focused, well-documented work rather than volume throughput. From the first month, every job came with a written condition report and a set of timing traces — not as a premium add-on but as a standard expectation of what the work should include.
Since then, the team has grown to three watchmakers handling independent and brand-label calibres across all price points. The documentation practice has not changed. Neither has the principle that no replacement part is fitted without the owner's written approval.
The name comes from the part of the movement that regulates power delivery to the gear train. It felt appropriate for a workshop where the quality of the work depends on slowing down, not speeding up.
2018
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Independent mechanical service for manual-wind, automatic and vintage calibres. No outsourcing of bench work.
Every owner leaves knowing exactly what was done to their watch, what it cost, and why each decision was made.
600+
Across Swiss, Japanese and independent makers
The Bench Team
Rajan Subramaniam
Founder & Head WatchmakerEleven years in retail service prior to founding Escapement Row. Specialises in complicated movements and heritage restorations with an emphasis on original parts sourcing.
Lim Wei Chong
Senior WatchmakerTrained in Switzerland and returned to Malaysia in 2015. Handles ETA, Sellita and in-house Swiss calibres. Responsible for timing machine calibration and rate testing protocols.
Nurul Ain Hamzah
Watchmaker & Case TechnicianJoined in 2021 with a background in precision engineering. Manages water resistance testing, gasket renewal and case finishing work across both modern and vintage pieces.
How We Run the Bench
Intake Photography
Every watch is photographed on arrival. External condition, dial details and any existing damage are recorded before a tool is picked up.
Written Condition Report
A written assessment accompanies all jobs. Work carried out, parts fitted and bench observations are documented in plain English for the owner's records.
Before & After Timing Traces
Rate traces from a timing machine are taken at intake and on completion. Both are included with the job record so the owner can see the effect of the work in numbers.
Approved Parts Only
Worn components are identified and quoted separately. Nothing is ordered or fitted without written consent from the owner. There are no silent substitutions.
Pressure Test Record
Cases subject to gasket renewal are dry and wet tested to marked depth. A printed pressure test record is included with every water resistance service.
Secure Storage
Watches in progress are held in a locked workshop safe during non-working hours. The workshop carries appropriate trade insurance covering items in our care.
Mechanical Expertise You Can Read
Watch repair in Kuala Lumpur has historically meant routing work through brand service centres or sending it overseas. Escapement Row offers a different path: a local bench staffed by watchmakers who have worked on a wide range of calibres and who write down what they find, not just what they fix.
Independent service means we are not bound by manufacturer labour rates, minimum service bundles or cosmetic restoration policies. We discuss scope with each owner and carry out exactly the work agreed — nothing added, nothing skipped.
For collectors, the documentation approach matters. A well-kept service history adds to a watch's account and gives future owners — or insurers — a clear picture of what has been done and when. We format our job cards so they can be filed alongside original paperwork.
For first-time service customers, we take time at intake to explain what an overhaul involves, what it will not change, and what to expect from the movement afterwards. The goal is that you leave the bench better informed about your watch than when you arrived.
Ready to Put Your Watch on the Bench?
Send an enquiry describing your timepiece and what you have noticed. We will confirm receipt and outline the next steps within one business day.
Send an Enquiry