Our Story
A Workshop Built Around Patience
Gearsmith began with a simple idea: watches should be understood before they are touched. That principle shapes every job we take on.
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Gearsmith, Phuket
Gearsmith is a specialist watch service workshop located at 205 Thalang Road in Talat Yai, Phuket. The workshop opened after years of work with independent repair technicians across Thailand, shaped by a growing frustration with fast-turnaround, undocumented work that left owners uncertain about what had actually been done to their pieces.
The approach here is different. Every watch that comes through the door receives an individual assessment before work begins. The owner is told what was found, what is planned, and how much it will cost. There is no pressure to proceed, and no vague invoices afterwards.
The workshop handles routine mechanical and quartz servicing, case and dial refinishing, and full overhauls of complicated and vintage calibers. It is a small operation by design — limiting the number of pieces in at any one time keeps the quality of attention consistent.
Mission
What Guides the Work
Transparency at every stage
What the watch needs, what it will cost, and how long it will take — discussed openly before the job starts, not explained away after.
Preservation over transformation
The character of a timepiece carries value — patina, original finishes, aged dials. Work here is measured to protect what makes each piece distinct.
Documentation as standard
A written record of all components inspected, parts replaced, readings taken, and adjustments made accompanies every completed job.
Paced, deliberate process
Certain jobs — especially heritage overhauls — cannot be rushed. The timeline is set by the watch, not by an arbitrary turnaround target.
The People
Those Behind the Work
A small team where each person handles a specific part of the process — no piece passes through hands that aren't familiar with what it needs.
Kritsada P.
Lead Watchmaker
Fourteen years working on mechanical movements, with a particular focus on vintage calibers from Swiss and Japanese makers of the 1960s–1980s.
Nattaya A.
Case & Dial Specialist
Specialises in surface restoration — polishing, refinishing, and crystal work — with an emphasis on keeping original aesthetics intact rather than over-correcting.
Somsak W.
Client Liaison & Assessment
Handles all initial consultations, written assessments, and owner communications — ensuring nothing is lost in translation between the bench and the person waiting.
Standards
How We Work
Practical standards that apply to every piece, regardless of value or complexity.
Pre-Work Assessment
Each piece receives a structured visual and mechanical review before the service begins. Findings are put in writing and shared with the owner.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Components are cleaned with calibrated ultrasonic equipment — an approach that removes contamination without the abrasion risks of older brush methods.
Manufacturer-Grade Lubricants
Only lubricants appropriate to the movement type are used, applied at the correct points and in the correct quantities.
Timing Regulation
Mechanical movements are regulated using a timing machine across multiple positions. Results are recorded in the service document.
Secure Storage
All pieces in the workshop are logged individually and held in a secure, climate-appropriate environment. Nothing sits unaccounted for.
Service Record Issued
A written summary of work completed is provided at collection. This document can be kept with the watch as part of its ongoing history.
The Craft
What Watch Servicing Actually Involves
A mechanical watch movement is a precision assembly of dozens of individual components — mainspring, gear train, escapement, balance wheel — each dependent on the others to keep time accurately. Over years of wear, the oils and greases applied during manufacture break down, contaminants accumulate, and the delicate tolerances between parts begin to shift. A service addresses these changes before they cause wear.
The process at Gearsmith begins with careful disassembly. Each component is individually examined, cleaned in an ultrasonic bath, and assessed for wear or damage. The movement is then reassembled with fresh lubricants applied precisely — different parts require different grades, and the quantities involved are measured in fractions of a millilitre. Once reassembled, the movement is regulated and observed over several days to confirm stability.
Case and dial work is a separate discipline. Polishing is an area where it is easy to remove more than intended — angular case lines and original finishing details can be lost under an aggressive polisher. The approach here is conservative: the minimum work needed to restore condition, with nothing taken back unnecessarily.
Vintage and complicated movements require a slower, more deliberate approach. Older calibers may have components that are no longer manufactured. Chronograph mechanisms, perpetual calendars, and repeater systems involve interdependencies that must be understood before any disassembly begins. The documentation process is particularly important here — the owner needs to understand what has been done and why.
Gearsmith is located in Talat Yai, a central district of Phuket town. The workshop is accessible for local residents and for visitors who prefer to hand over a piece in person rather than arrange a postal service.
Next Step
Bring Your Watch for a Conversation
No obligation at the assessment stage. Tell us about the piece and what you've noticed — we'll take it from there at whatever pace suits you.
Contact the Workshop