About the Workshop
A small workshop
built around patience
Tawan Watchcraft was started on a simple idea: that a watch deserves careful hands, honest words, and enough time for the work to be done well.
Our Story
How Tawan Watchcraft came about
Tawan Watchcraft opened on Sukhumvit Road in 2011, in a shophouse that had housed a locksmith before it. The founder, Khun Tawan Boonchu, had spent eight years learning movement work under senior craftsmen in Chiang Mai and later in a watchmaker's atelier near Pratunam before opening independently.
The name "Tawan" — meaning the sun in Thai — was chosen because good watch repair, like morning light, is unhurried and reveals things clearly. That idea still shapes how the workshop operates: each piece is assessed before anything is agreed, notes are kept throughout, and the owner is kept informed.
Over time the workshop grew to include two additional technicians, both trained in-house, and expanded its range to cover most mechanical and automatic movements. What has not changed is the pace: we do not aim for volume. We aim for work we are comfortable putting our name to.
Clients come from across Bangkok and occasionally from other parts of Thailand. Some have been bringing the same collection of watches for over a decade. That kind of long relationship is something we value and do not take for granted.
What we stand by
- Clear conversation first. We describe what we see and what we recommend. Work only begins when you agree.
- Appropriate materials. We use lubricants and parts suited to the movement — not whatever is easiest to source.
- Written records. Every service comes with notes on what was found and done, for your reference and ours.
- Honest capacity. If a watch is beyond our current skill or requires specialist tools we do not have, we say so rather than attempt it.
By the numbers
14+
years in Bangkok
3
workshop technicians
800+
watches serviced
95%
clients returning
The People
Who works on your watch
Tawan Boonchu
Founder & Senior Watchmaker
Trained in Chiang Mai and Pratunam over eight years before opening Tawan Watchcraft in 2011. Tawan handles complex movements and full restorations personally.
Nattaporn Srirak
Watchmaker — Strap & Case
Nattaporn joined the workshop in 2017 and specialises in bracelet work, crown and seal renewals, and finishing. She completed a case-work study programme in 2019.
Phakorn Kanjana
Watchmaker — Movement Service
Phakorn trained under Tawan for four years and now leads light service and check-up work. He also manages client communications and keeps the notes system running clearly.
How We Work
Workshop standards
Assessment before work
Every watch is assessed and documented before any service begins. We note the condition, the running rate, and any visible concerns — and we share this with the owner first.
Movement-grade lubricants
We use lubricants specified for horological use — applied to the correct points in the correct quantities. Over-lubrication is as harmful as under-lubrication; we treat both as avoidable.
Pressure testing for water resistance
Where the case design permits and seal work has been carried out, we test water resistance with dry-air equipment before returning the watch.
Timing measurement
We measure timing rate before and after each service. You receive both figures so you can see the change and understand what to expect from the piece going forward.
Service record with every job
A written summary of work carried out is provided with each completed service. We keep our own copy as well, so if you return in a few years we can review what was done.
Personal data handled with care
We store only the contact information needed to communicate about your watch. We do not share client details with outside parties and do not retain data beyond its purpose.
About Our Approach
Watch repair in Bangkok, done at a sensible pace
Tawan Watchcraft serves clients across Bangkok who want their timepieces serviced by people who understand what they're handling. Bangkok's climate — warm and humid for much of the year — is genuinely hard on watch seals and lubricants, which is why regular servicing matters more here than it might in a cooler or drier city.
Our workshop on Sukhumvit Road is easy to reach from most parts of the city. We accept pieces by drop-off or by appointment, whichever is more convenient. If you're sending a watch from outside Bangkok, we can advise on safe packaging methods before you do so.
The watches we see most often are daily-wear automatics and mechanical dress watches — both Japanese and Swiss movements, and occasionally vintage Thai or regional pieces. We're comfortable with a wide range of calibres and will say clearly if a particular movement is outside our current scope.
What we try to avoid is the kind of service where the watch comes back no worse but nothing has really been addressed. A service that looks complete from the outside but skips proper cleaning and fresh lubrication may keep a watch running for a year or two more, but it does the movement no long-term good. We'd rather take the time and do the job properly.
Get in Touch
We're glad to answer questions
If you'd like to know more about our work or discuss a particular watch, you're welcome to send a message or call the workshop directly.
Send a Message