A watchmaker's bench run on honesty and patience
We believe a watch should be repaired with the same care it was made — and that the person leaving it with us deserves a clear, respectful account of what we find.
Back to HomeHow Kamol Timeworks came to be
Kamol Timeworks began on a quiet street in Bangkok's Sathorn district, in a narrow ground-floor space that had previously been a textile archive. The founder, Kamol Rattanapruk, had spent most of his working life in the movement-repair ateliers of older watchmakers — first as an apprentice in Chiang Mai, then in a small family-run shop near Silom that closed when its owner retired.
The name was chosen simply: Timeworks is what happens here. No grander claim seemed appropriate for a workshop whose ambition is straightforward — to return a watch to reliable function without losing what made it interesting in the first place. That means different things for different pieces. A daily-wear watch may just need a clean and a check. An inherited dress watch from the 1950s calls for something more considered.
Over time, the workshop developed a particular interest in antique Thai and imported European movements from the mid-twentieth century — pieces that often arrive needing patience more than parts, though sometimes both. The work on these takes longer, and we are honest about that. We think an owner who understands the process makes better decisions than one who has been given a vague, optimistic timeline.
Today the bench serves private owners, estates managing inherited watches, and the occasional collector seeking a second opinion. We don't advertise a long list of brands or a rapid turnaround. What we do offer is an unhurried look at what your watch needs, a plain account of the options, and careful work on whatever you decide to proceed with.
Who works at the bench
Kamol Rattanapruk
Principal Watchmaker
Over two decades servicing mechanical and automatic movements, with a focused interest in mid-century antique pieces and movement-level restoration.
Nattaporn Preecha
Restoration Technician
Specialises in dial conservation and case finishing. Trained in traditional surface treatment methods, with care taken to preserve original lacquer and metal patina.
Siriporn Wattana
Client Liaison
Handles communications, documentation, and ensures that owners understand each stage of their watch's progress from intake to collection.
Standards we hold ourselves to
Written assessment before any work
Every watch receives a written summary of its condition and the options available. This is shared before work begins, not after.
Conservation-first thinking
Where a watch has historical or sentimental value, we favour conserving original material over replacement unless replacement is genuinely necessary.
Appropriate tools and materials
We use lubricants, cleaning solutions, and equipment suited to the period and type of movement. What works on a modern automatic is not always right for a vintage lever escapement.
Secure handling and storage
Watches in our care are stored individually, labelled, and kept in a secure, humidity-controlled environment. We do not accept more work than we can handle responsibly.
Service documentation
Completed work comes with a written record of what was done — useful for insurance, future servicing, or simply as a record of the watch's history.
Open communication throughout
If something unexpected turns up once the movement is open, we contact you before proceeding. Nothing additional is carried out without your agreement.
What watchmaking means at this workshop
Bangkok is a city that wears watches seriously. From vintage dress pieces passed down through families to contemporary sports models used in earnest, many people here have a watch they depend on or one they wouldn't want to lose. Kamol Timeworks exists to serve both kinds of owner.
Mechanical watchmaking is a discipline that rewards patience. A movement may have eighty or a hundred individual parts, some barely a millimetre across. Each requires inspection, and each has a role in whether the watch runs within acceptable tolerances. Shortcuts in this process don't appear immediately — they appear months later, when a watch that seemed fine at collection starts losing or gaining time. We prefer to do the work properly once than to have a watch come back.
For antique work, the calculation shifts further toward conservation. A replacement part for a 1940s Swiss pocket watch may be available — but it will look different from the original, and it changes what the watch is. In many cases the better path is to restore the existing component rather than substitute it. We discuss this with owners openly, because the right choice varies with what the watch means to the person who owns it.
Our location on Sathorn Road places us in a part of Bangkok that is easy to reach. We welcome owners who want to drop in and talk through a watch before committing to anything — a visit of ten minutes can often answer more questions than a longer exchange by message.
Come and talk about your watch
No commitment is required at the enquiry stage. We're glad to hear about the piece and give you a sense of what might be involved.
Send an Enquiry