A Workshop Built on Patience and Precision
Thong Mechanism was founded to give Bangkok's watch owners a place where their timepieces receive genuine attention — not a production line, but a bench where each watch is considered individually.
Back to HomeHow Thong Mechanism Came to Be
Thong Mechanism opened its doors in 2008 on Phra Ram 3 Road in Bang Kho Laem — a neighbourhood the founder, Khun Thawatchai Somboon, had known since childhood, and one with its own quiet culture of craft and trade along the Chao Phraya bank.
Khun Thawatchai trained in Switzerland in the late 1990s before returning to Thailand with the intention of applying what he'd learned within the context of Bangkok's own collecting community — a city where mechanical watches carry particular meaning, passed between generations as markers of occasion and status.
The name "Thong" — the Thai word for gold — was chosen to reflect the value placed on careful work and honest materials, and the warmth that should come through in every interaction at the bench.
What We Set Out to Do
Our purpose has remained consistent: to offer Bangkok's watch owners a workshop where the work is done properly, the findings are communicated honestly, and the watch is returned in a condition the owner can feel confident about.
We don't aim to be the largest repair shop in the city. We aim to be one of the most careful — the kind of place where a watch with family significance, or an instrument piece worn through years of daily use, can be treated as what it is: something worth preserving.
Whether a watch comes in for a brief wellness check or a full movement rebuild, the same attention applies. The work is recorded, the client is kept informed, and nothing proceeds without a clear understanding of scope and cost.
Who Works at the Bench
Thawatchai Somboon
Founder & Master Watchmaker
Trained in Switzerland; over twenty-five years working with mechanical movements. Leads all antique restoration cases and oversees quality across the workshop.
Nattapong Phromma
Movement Technician
Specialises in movement cleaning, lubrication, and regulation for modern and vintage mechanical watches. Handles the bulk of movement service work.
Siriporn Wattana
Client Liaison & Intake
Manages all client communication, drop-off documentation, and follow-up. Ensures every owner knows the status of their watch throughout the process.
Workshop Standards & Protocols
Horological Training
Our lead technician holds formal horological qualifications from Switzerland. All bench work is reviewed against documented standards before a watch is returned.
Secure Storage
Watches under our care are stored in secure, climate-controlled conditions and handled only by named technicians. A receipt documents each piece from intake to collection.
Regulated Lubricants
We use movement-appropriate lubricants from established suppliers — matched to the age and specification of each calibre, not applied generically.
Written Findings
Every service concludes with a written note — what was found, what was done, and any recommendations for future care. You receive this when you collect your watch.
Water Resistance Testing
Movement service includes a basic water-resistance check where appropriate, using pressure-testing equipment to verify gasket and case seal integrity.
Client Data Privacy
Contact and watch details provided at intake are used only for service management and communication. We do not share client information with any third party.
What Horological Craft Means at Thong Mechanism
Mechanical watchmaking is one of the few crafts where the work cannot be hurried. A movement that has been cleaned and lubricated too quickly — or with the wrong compounds — will behave differently within months. At Thong Mechanism, the time taken on each job is determined by the watch, not by a production schedule.
Bangkok has a deep and often underappreciated horological community. Collectors here tend to be knowledgeable about the watches they own — often across several generations — and the questions they bring to us are specific. We find that directness works best: we describe what we observe, explain what the options are, and let the owner decide how to proceed.
Antique watch restoration in particular asks for a kind of patience that isn't common in modern service environments. Sourcing a correct part for a 1940s dress watch from a Swiss or German maker can take weeks; refinishing a damaged dial to a period-appropriate standard takes considered judgement. These are not inconveniences — they are part of what makes the work meaningful.
Whether you bring us a daily piece that needs a check before a long journey, a mechanical watch that has started losing time, or a grandfather's watch that hasn't moved in years — you'll receive the same standard of care and the same honest assessment of what can be done.
Bring Your Watch to the Bench
A five-minute conversation at intake is often enough to understand what your watch needs. We welcome walk-ins during working hours, or you can reach us in advance by phone or message.
Get in Touch