Our Story
A workshop built on patience.
Fifteen years of quiet work at the heart of Kuala Lumpur — one watch at a time.
Back to HomeWho We Are
Founded in calm,
practised with care.
zeitnes opened in 2009 in a modest space along Jalan Bukit Bintang. The name — a compound of the German words for time and nest — reflects our belief that a watch is not merely a device. It is a place where meaning lives.
Our founder, Razif Hamdan, trained in Geneva under a Swiss maître-horloger and returned to Malaysia with a clear conviction: that Kuala Lumpur's watch owners deserved the same considered care available in Europe. What began as a two-person operation has grown steadily through word-of-mouth alone.
Today, our small team handles everything from a simple battery change to years-long restoration projects. We have never advertised. Every person who arrives at our door was sent by someone who trusted us.
15+
Years in Kuala Lumpur
3,400+
Watches cared for
4.9
Average client rating
6
Trained horologists on team
The People
The hands behind the work
Our team is small by choice. Every watchmaker at zeitnes has trained formally and brings their own particular depth to the work.
Razif Hamdan
Founder & Master Watchmaker
Trained in Geneva. Specialises in vintage mechanical movements and complex stewardship restoration projects.
Siti Lyana
Senior Watchmaker
Fifteen years of experience in Japanese and Swiss quartz service. Leads our Movement Rehabilitation work.
Azrul Marzuki
Watchmaker & Case Specialist
Trained in Osaka. Responsible for case finishing, bracelet repair, and water resistance verification across all services.
Our Standards
How we hold ourselves accountable
We apply these principles to every watch in our care — not because we are asked to, but because anything less would feel like a disservice.
WOSTEP-Aligned Training
Our watchmakers follow the curriculum and techniques outlined by the Watchmaking Outreach Support and Training for Education Programme — the global standard for professional horology.
Water Resistance Protocol
Every water-resistant case handled in our workshop is sealed with new gaskets and tested with a pressure gauge before collection — regardless of service type.
Timing Machine Verification
All serviced mechanical movements are measured on a timing machine across six positions and documented before the watch is returned.
Secure Storage
Watches in our care are stored in a climate-controlled safe when not on the workbench. All removed parts are labelled and retained until collection.
Condition Reporting
Every watch receives a written condition report on arrival and at completion. You know what we found, what we did, and what we recommend for the future.
Service Warranty
Movement Rehabilitation and Stewardship Restoration services carry a 24-month workmanship warranty. Any concern arising from our work is assessed and addressed without hesitation.
Our Values
What guides our work
Watchmaking is a discipline that resists haste. A movement disassembled too quickly, a component relubricated with the wrong grade of oil, a gasket fitted under poor lighting — each small compromise accumulates. We resist the pressure to work faster because our clients' watches deserve better than that.
We hold no formal partnerships with particular manufacturers and we accept no commission from parts suppliers. Our sourcing decisions are made solely on the basis of quality and authenticity. When we recommend a service, it is because the watch needs it — not because we benefit from the recommendation.
Our workshop serves watch owners across Kuala Lumpur and, by arrangement, clients from across Malaysia who prefer to entrust their timepieces by registered courier. We handle each watch as though it were our own — with steady hands, honest advice, and the patience this work requires.
We believe the most meaningful thing we offer is not a service catalogue but a relationship. Many of our clients have been bringing their watches to us for a decade. That trust is not something we take for granted.
Ready to bring your watch in?
We welcome conversations before any commitment. Reach out and we will find a time that works for you.
Contact zeitnes