Our Story
A Workshop Built on Patient Craft
Tawan Craft was established to offer watch owners in Thailand a place where their timepieces receive considered, unhurried attention — not a conveyor belt.
Back to HomeWho We Are
Tawan Craft, Pattaya
The workshop opened on Beach Road with a straightforward purpose: to give mechanical watches in Thailand the kind of attention they were built to receive. The name Tawan — meaning sun in Thai — reflects the clarity and warmth that guides the work here.
The Eastern Seaboard of Thailand is home to a diverse community of watch enthusiasts, long-term residents, and visitors whose timepieces range from everyday wearers to pieces of personal or historical significance. Tawan Craft was built with all of these owners in mind.
Work is carried out without rushing. A movement that has waited twenty years for attention will not benefit from being hurried through a workshop in three days. Every watch receives its own pace, and the owner is kept informed throughout.
Our Mission
What We Stand For
Transparency
An honest condition assessment is provided in writing before any work proceeds. Costs and scope are always agreed in advance.
Patience
Complex restoration work is carried out at the pace the watch requires — particularly where original components are delicate or fragile.
Respect for Heritage
Collectible and inherited watches are treated conservatively, preserving the original character of the piece wherever this is achievable.
Open Conversation
Questions are welcomed at any stage. The workshop will always explain findings clearly and discuss options without pressure.
The Team
The People Behind the Work
Tawan Charoensuk
Master Watchmaker
Trained in movement servicing and restoration over more than fifteen years. Specialises in vintage mechanical work and period-correct parts sourcing across Thai and Swiss timepieces.
Nattaya Phromma
Case & Crystal Specialist
Handles bezel and crystal work with care for both functional integrity and original appearance. Her eye for detail is particularly valued on sports watches that have seen active use.
Somchai Wattana
Client Liaison
Manages assessments and client communication, ensuring that condition reports are clear, pricing is transparent, and owners feel comfortable at every stage of the process.
Standards
How We Approach the Work
Written Assessments
Every watch receives a written condition note after assessment. This document outlines findings, recommends a service path, and confirms the cost before any work begins.
Calibre-Appropriate Tools
The workshop maintains a range of hand tools, timing equipment, and cleaning apparatus suited to the movements commonly worked on — no improvised solutions.
Careful Parts Sourcing
For restoration work, parts are sourced with attention to period and origin. Where original components are unavailable, alternatives are discussed with the owner before fitting.
Correct Lubrication
The right lubricant for each part of the movement. Over-oiling and incorrect viscosity are among the most common avoidable causes of premature wear.
Timing Verification
Following service, each movement is measured on a timing machine in multiple positions to confirm rate and amplitude are within a comfortable range.
Owner Privacy
Details of watches left in the workshop and any personal information provided by clients are held in confidence and not shared or used beyond the scope of the service.
Craft & Context
Watch Servicing in Thailand
Mechanical watches require periodic servicing — a process that clears old lubricants, removes contamination, and returns the movement to a state of reliable operation. The interval varies by calibre, usage, and storage conditions, but most watchmakers suggest servicing every five to eight years as a general guide.
Thailand's climate — warm and humid for much of the year — can accelerate the breakdown of oils within movements and introduce moisture into cases that are not well sealed. Watches kept in Pattaya, or brought to the country over a number of years, benefit from knowing there is a local workshop able to attend to them properly.
Tawan Craft works with automatic, manual-wind, and vintage mechanical watches. The workshop does not service battery-powered or smartwatch movements. For each enquiry, the first step is always a look at the actual piece — not a commitment, simply a conversation about what might be appropriate.
Owners of collectible or inherited timepieces sometimes approach restoration with some hesitation, uncertain whether intervention will preserve or diminish the watch's character. The workshop treats this concern with respect. Conservation — keeping what can be kept, restoring only what needs restoring — is the guiding principle for heritage work.
Curious About Your Watch's Condition?
Bring it by or send a message. The workshop is glad to take a look and share an honest view of where things stand — with no obligation to proceed.