— Our Story
A Workshop Built on
Patience and Precision
Escapement was founded on a simple idea — that every watch, regardless of age or origin, deserves thoughtful attention.
← Back to Home01 — Our Story
How Escapement Came to Be
Escapement opened in Patong after years spent working with timepieces across different contexts — service centres, independent workshops, and private collections. What stayed constant was a preference for work done carefully over work done quickly.
Phuket's position as a crossroads for travellers and residents from many countries means we regularly see pieces from all over the world — Japanese quartz movements, Swiss mechanicals, and vintage pieces carried across decades. Each one comes with its own history, and we find that worth respecting.
Our workshop is set up for the full range of work we offer: pressure-testing equipment, ultrasonic cleaning, calibrated timing machines, and a parts sourcing network that reaches into the European and Asian vintage markets. The tools are there because the work requires them, not because they make a good impression.
02 — Our Mission
What We're Here to Do
We want the watches people bring to us to leave in better shape than they arrived — functioning as they should, looking as they were designed to look, and with documentation that makes future servicing easier.
For quartz pieces, that means a thorough service and a reliable record. For pieces going through the Refinish & Resistance Package, it means surfaces treated with care and water resistance that's actually been tested. For vintage mechanicals, it means the kind of patient attention that complicated, older movements genuinely need.
12+
Years of watchmaking experience
3
Specialist service paths
500+
Pieces serviced in Phuket
100%
Written service records provided
03 — The Team
The People at the Bench
Thanawat Wongchai
Lead Watchmaker
Trained in mechanical horology with a focus on vintage Swiss and Japanese movements. Handles the overhaul and diagnostic work for complex pieces.
Supansa Ratanakit
Case & Finishing Specialist
Works exclusively on exterior restoration — case refinishing, bracelet work, and gasket renewal. Precise and geometry-aware in approach.
Pakorn Kaewdee
Quartz & Electronics
Manages quartz movement servicing, battery care, and movement testing. Also handles pressure testing and resistance verification for all completed jobs.
04 — Standards
How We Work
Our approach follows a consistent set of principles across every service, regardless of the piece or the price point.
Assessment Before Action
We examine each piece before quoting and before starting. If the diagnosis changes what's needed, we communicate that clearly — no surprises on the invoice.
Tested, Not Assumed
Resistance ratings are confirmed with dry and wet pressure tests — not just a gasket change. Timing is checked on a calibrated machine after regulation.
Written Service Records
Every completed job leaves with a written record of work performed and any notes relevant to the piece's future. Useful for insurance, resale, and continuity of care.
Appropriate Parts Only
We source period-appropriate components for vintage work and manufacturer-specification parts wherever available. We don't fit mismatched or improvised replacements.
Secure Handling
Pieces in our care are tracked and stored securely from intake to collection. We can provide photographic documentation of condition at handover.
Transparent Communication
Updates at each stage, clear language about what's possible, and no pressure to approve work beyond what's warranted. Your call, always.
05 — Our Expertise
Watch Repair in Phuket — What That Actually Means
Running a watch repair workshop in Patong means working with a genuinely varied range of pieces. The island draws visitors and long-stay residents from across Asia, Europe, and further afield — and their watches reflect that. We've handled movements from Swiss manufacturers, Japanese independents, and German makers; quartz calibres from the 1980s and mechanical movements going back further still.
The Refinish & Resistance Package exists because coastal living and diving are both common here, and a watch that's been rated water-resistant but hasn't had its seals attended to in several years may not perform as marked. Pressure testing makes that clear, one way or the other.
The Vintage Revival Program draws enquiries from collectors who've acquired pieces locally or brought them with the intention of restoring a family watch. That work takes longer and benefits from an unhurried approach — which is how we approach it.
Escapement is located on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road in Patong, accessible from the main tourist area and open Monday through Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome; for vintage restoration discussions, contacting us in advance is worth doing.
Ready to Bring Your Watch In?
We're open Monday to Saturday, 10:00–19:00. Come by with your piece or get in touch to discuss what you need.
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