About the Workshop
A place where the
work speaks quietly.
horologicafads opened on Charoen Krung Road in 2009. The intention then, as now, was straightforward: do the work properly and write it down.
Back to HomeOur Story
Fifteen years on Charoen Krung
horologicafads was founded in 2009 by Prayuth Chansomwong, a Bangkok-born watchmaker who trained in Switzerland before returning to Thailand. The workshop began as a quiet bench on the upper floor of a shophouse along the old trading road, and it has stayed there.
The street itself has a long association with craftsmanship — jewellers, silversmiths, and dealers in antique goods have kept workshops here for generations. That continuity shaped how horologicafads chose to operate: unhurried, methodical, and attentive to the object rather than the volume of objects passing through.
We have never advertised heavily. Most clients arrive through word of mouth, or because they walked past and noticed the light on the bench through the window. That suits us well.
How We Work
The bench process
Every watch received at horologicafads is logged into our workshop register on the day of drop-off. We note the brand, model, visible condition, and any observations the owner wishes to pass on. Nothing starts without that written record.
For mechanical work, the movement is assessed before any disassembly. For vintage and inherited pieces, we discuss the extent of the work — and what, if anything, we will leave untouched — before proceeding. Reversibility matters to us, particularly with older watches whose patina and originality carry value beyond function.
When a watch leaves the bench, the owner receives a written summary of what was done. Not a receipt — a record. Something you can bring back in five years when the watch is due another service, and we can see exactly where we left off.
Our Mission
"To return every watch to its owner in better condition than received — with a written record and an honest account of the work performed."
The Team
Three people at the bench
Prayuth Chansomwong
Founder & Master Watchmaker
Trained in Neuchâtel, returned to Bangkok in 2008. Leads all mechanical and vintage restoration work, with a particular interest in older Swiss lever escapements.
Natnicha Kaewsri
Workshop Technician
Handles quartz battery and seal services, timing machine documentation, and parts procurement. Joined the workshop in 2017 after completing a technical programme in precision mechanics.
Warin Trakulrat
Client Liaison & Records
Manages drop-off reception, workshop scheduling, and the service records archive. Has been with horologicafads since 2014 and speaks Thai, English, and conversational French.
Workshop Standards
How we hold ourselves to account
Movement Assessment Before Work Begins
We assess the condition of every movement before disassembly. Any concerns — worn parts, non-original components, evidence of prior work — are noted and discussed with the owner first.
Timing Machine Documentation
All mechanical services conclude with regulation on a calibrated timing machine. The rate result — amplitude, beat error, and daily rate — is recorded and provided with the watch.
Manufacturer-Specified Lubricants
We use lubricants specified for Swiss and Japanese movements — the correct oil for the correct application point. Not a general-purpose substitute, and never over-lubricated.
Water Resistance Testing
Every watch receiving a battery or seal service is pressure-tested before return. Results are noted as a pass or observation — we do not assume a newly closed case is automatically sealed.
Workshop Register
Every watch received is entered into our workshop register with a condition description and photographs. These records are retained and are available to the owner on request.
Scope Agreed in Writing
For restoration work, the agreed scope is written down and signed before any bench work begins. We do not exceed what was agreed without a separate conversation and consent.
About Our Craft
Watchmaking in Bangkok: a craft of patience
The watch repair trade in Bangkok has roots in the dense shophouse workshops of Charoen Krung Road and Silom, where Swiss-trained craftspeople set up benches in the mid-twentieth century to service the growing collection culture among expatriate and Thai collector communities. horologicafads continues in that tradition — not as a heritage performance, but as a practical reality.
Mechanical watchmaking involves working with components measured in hundredths of a millimetre. An escape wheel tooth, a pallet stone, a balance spring: these are objects of considerable engineering in very small form. The skill required to disassemble, clean, lubricate, reassemble, and regulate a mechanical movement is acquired over years, not weeks. We have spent that time.
Vintage restoration is a separate, more considered discipline. Where a standard service follows a clear procedure, restoration involves judgement — what to clean, what to leave, where originality outweighs cosmetic improvement. A dial that shows its age is not necessarily a dial that should be refinished. That conversation is one we have carefully, with the owner, before we decide anything.
For everyday quartz watches, the concern is simpler: the battery should be fresh, the gasket should seal, and the pressure test should pass. We approach this modest service with the same attention to documentation we bring to more elaborate work. Your daily watch deserves a record too.
Ready to Begin
Bring your watch to the bench.
Drop in or send an enquiry. We will assess the piece and discuss what it needs before any work begins.
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