About the Workshop
Work that earns the trust placed in it.
Pinionworks was set up on one principle: that a watch brought in for repair deserves the same unhurried attention it received when it was first made.
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A workshop shaped by the work itself
Pinionworks came together on Phra Pokklao Road in Phra Sing, Chiang Mai — a neighbourhood that has long had a quiet relationship with craft trades. The name is drawn from the pinion, the small toothed wheel that transfers motion between larger gears in a movement. It is a component that rarely receives attention, yet everything depends on it turning true.
The workshop was built around three services that suit its pace and setup well: crystal polishing for surface work that daily-wear pieces accumulate over years; dial refinishing for owners whose watch has aged unevenly but who prefer a measured approach over a heavy cosmetic redo; and pocket watch and complication restoration for those who own intricate or antique pieces requiring unhurried, considered attention.
From the start, the method has been station-based. Each piece is assessed, assigned to a station sequence, and moved through that sequence at whatever pace the work requires. Nothing is rushed to free up the bench. Owners are kept informed at meaningful points, not just at collection.
Mission
"To give every piece the kind of attention that the person who first wore it would have recognised."
Workshop Values
- Honesty first. Assessments are written plainly. If a repair is not within the workshop's scope, that is said clearly rather than attempted.
- Pace set by the piece. Turnaround estimates are given honestly and adjusted only when the work genuinely requires it.
- Character respected. Original finish, patina, and proportion are considered at every step. The aim is a watch returned in better health, not a different watch.
The People
Who works at the bench
Nattawut Kraiwong
Lead Watchmaker
Leads restoration work on pocket watches and complicated movements. Has worked with calendar and repeater mechanisms for over a decade and prepared written assessments for each significant job since the workshop opened.
Pattaraporn Thongsuk
Dial & Crystal Technician
Responsible for crystal polishing and dial refinishing work. Approaches colour matching with particular care, drawing on training in surface finishing to preserve original dial character rather than over-restore it.
Siriporn Rungrot
Workshop Coordinator
Manages intake, logging, and owner communication. Ensures pieces move through the station sequence correctly and that owners receive updates at the stages they were promised — not only at collection.
Workshop Standards
How we approach each piece
These are not aspirations — they are the consistent practices the workshop applies to every job, regardless of the price point.
Written Intake Record
Every piece is logged at intake with a reference number, a condition note, and the agreed scope of work. No verbal-only arrangements.
Secure Storage Between Stations
Movements not currently on the bench are kept in labelled, closed trays in a locked cabinet. Cases and straps are stored separately to prevent contact damage.
Regulation Across Multiple Positions
Movements leaving the workshop for restoration work are regulated in at least five positions. Results are noted in the job record and available to the owner.
Original Parts Preference
Where sourcing allows, original or period-correct parts are used. Substitutions are discussed and agreed with the owner before fitting, never assumed.
Staged Owner Communication
For longer restorations, owners receive a brief written update at each defined stage — assessment, work-in-progress, regulation complete, ready for collection.
Owner Data Handled Carefully
Contact details are used only for communication about the specific repair. Nothing is retained beyond the completion of the job unless the owner requests otherwise.
Workshop Notes
On crystal polishing
Acrylic and mineral crystals respond differently to polishing compounds, and the correct approach depends on the scratch depth and the type of glass. Pinionworks assesses each crystal before selecting the method. Crystals with deep chips or fractures that polishing cannot resolve are replaced rather than polished — and the owner is told that clearly at assessment, not after time has been spent on ineffective work.
On dial refinishing
Dial work is one of the more consequential decisions in watch repair. An over-restored dial reduces the character and, often, the value of a piece. The workshop's approach is to treat the existing surface as the target state and work toward it, rather than toward an idea of what a new dial should look like. When colour matching is not feasible — because the original pigment or print method cannot be sourced — the owner is told and the decision is theirs to make.
Ready to proceed?
Bring your piece to the bench.
A message with a brief description of the watch and what you have noticed is all that is needed to get started. The workshop will respond with an initial view within one working day.
Send an Enquiry