Kuching, Sarawak
Work Done at the Right Pace,
for the Right Reasons
Bumi is a small watchmaking and clock restoration workshop. The work is unhurried, the assessment is honest, and the character of each piece is treated with care.
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How Bumi Came to Be
Bumi began as a single bench in a corner of Jalan Padungan, set up with hand tools accumulated over years of learning the trade through taking things apart and, more importantly, putting them back together correctly. The name is a word for ground or earth — a reminder that the work is grounded, physical, and takes time.
The workshop opened formally after years spent studying movement servicing, case restoration, and the particular demands of older pendulum clocks brought in for repair. Over time, three core services took shape: wall clock restoration, crystal polishing, and pivot work — each drawing on a different set of skills but sharing the same unhurried approach.
Today, Bumi handles pieces brought in from across Kuching and the wider Sarawak region. Some arrive as family heirlooms with complex mechanical faults. Others are worn daily watches whose crystals have collected years of light scratches. Each is assessed on its own terms before any commitment is made about cost or method.
Our Mission
What Guides the Work
The workshop does not take on more work than it can handle carefully. This is a deliberate choice. Lead times are stated honestly, and they reflect the actual time needed to do the work well — not the time it takes to do it quickly.
Restoration is preferred over replacement wherever the piece warrants it. Original dials, patinated cases, and period-correct components are preserved where possible. When replacement is the better option, that conversation happens with the client before anything is ordered.
Pricing is transparent. Listed starting figures are discussed further once a piece has been assessed. There are no hidden charges and no work proceeds without agreement on scope and cost.
The People
Who Does the Work
A small team with specific skills. No generalists — each person focuses on what they do well.
Suhaimi Razali
Lead Watchmaker
Responsible for movement servicing and pivot work. Trained in Peninsular Malaysia before returning to Sarawak to open the workshop.
Norhaida Abdullah
Clock Restoration
Handles case repair, timber work, and glass replacement on wall clocks. Brings background experience in furniture restoration to the work.
Lim Chee Wai
Crystal & Finishing
Specialises in crystal polishing and surface finishing. Has worked with both acrylic and mineral materials across a range of watch styles.
How We Work
Workshop Standards
Principles that shape each commission, from the first assessment to the final handover.
Assessment Before Commitment
Every piece is examined before any cost or timeline is agreed. The assessment is no-charge and results in a clear recommendation.
Work Under Magnification
Pivot and movement work is carried out under magnification to maintain the geometry and surface condition the piece requires.
Originality Preserved
Period-appropriate parts and original finishes are retained wherever feasible. Replacement is the last resort, not the first option.
Heat Management
Crystal polishing is managed with careful heat control throughout to prevent distortion — a step that is easily skipped and difficult to undo.
Condition Documentation
The state of each piece on arrival is noted. This provides a reference point during work and a record for the client on collection.
Secure Storage
Pieces in progress are kept in a secure area of the workshop throughout the service period. Items are not left unattended outside the workshop.
Workshop Values
Considered Work, Done Steadily
The watch and clock repair trade in Sarawak draws on a mixed tradition — pieces of Swiss, German, and Japanese origin sit alongside locally-acquired wall clocks of considerable age. Bumi's work reflects this variety. The workshop does not specialise in one movement nationality or period; instead, each piece is approached with reference to its own construction and condition.
Wall clock restoration at Bumi covers the full scope of a regulator, Vienna, or pendulum clock service. Movement cleaning and lubrication, suspension spring inspection, pendulum adjustment, and regulation after assembly are all included within the service. Where case or dial work is needed — timber repair, glass cutting, dial cleaning — this is assessed separately and discussed with the client before it is added to the scope.
Crystal polishing is a service that many workshops decline to offer, preferring to simply replace the crystal. Bumi undertakes polishing where the damage profile makes it appropriate, working through compound grades progressively to restore clarity without distortion. Where replacement is clearly the better outcome, that recommendation is made plainly.
Pivot polishing and burnishing addresses one of the quieter sources of timekeeping error — worn pivot surfaces that introduce friction into an otherwise sound movement. The work is precise and time-consuming, which is reflected in the lead time. It is typically paired with a broader movement examination to catch any related issues before reassembly.
Clients who bring pieces to Bumi can expect an honest account of what is involved, a realistic timeline, and a result that respects the piece as it was made. The workshop does not overstate its capabilities and does not take on work it cannot complete to a satisfactory standard.
Ready to Bring a Piece In?
Drop off during workshop hours or send a message first. The assessment is no-charge and there is no obligation to proceed.
Contact the Workshop