Why Pinionworks
The difference is in how the work is done.
A repair is only as good as the process behind it. Here is what the Pinionworks approach provides that most workshop visits do not.
Back to HomeAt a Glance
Six things owners consistently value
Station-Based Workflow
The movement passes through defined stages in sequence. Each one is completed and verified before the next begins — not performed in parallel or collapsed to save time.
Written Assessment Before Work Begins
For restoration work, a written assessment documents what was found and what is proposed. Nothing proceeds without the owner's agreement on scope and cost.
Turnaround Estimates Kept To
Timelines are stated at intake and honoured. If something is found during work that changes the picture, the owner is contacted before the deadline passes, not after.
Sympathetic Refinishing Approach
Dial and crystal work is matched to the original character of the piece. Aggressive cosmetic restoration is never applied by default — the owner makes that call, not the workshop.
Specialist Complication Capacity
Pocket watches, repeaters, and calendar movements are taken in — not declined or sent elsewhere. Parts are hand-fitted and regulation is carried out across multiple positions.
Progress Updates at Each Stage
Owners of pieces in for longer work receive a brief note at each defined stage — not a silence followed by a collection call. The watch's journey through the workshop is visible.
In Depth
Each benefit, explained
Depth of expertise
The workshop handles work that many general repair shops decline: pocket watches with worn platforms, calendar mechanisms with missing parts, repeaters that have been poorly reassembled in the past. This range exists because the lead watchmaker has spent time specifically on these movement types, not because the workshop takes everything without discrimination.
- Repeater and calendar movement experience
- Pocket watch restoration including platform escapements
- Regulation across five or more positions
Scope note
The workshop is transparent about its limits. If a particular piece is beyond what can be done well here, that is said at assessment. The owner keeps the piece and is not charged for time spent reaching that conclusion.
Process discipline
The station-based method is the core of how Pinionworks works. It is not a marketing description — it is a physical arrangement of the bench and a rule that no stage is skipped or compressed. Assessment, disassembly, cleaning, part fitting, regulation, and final check each occupy their own step.
- Sequential, not parallel work
- Each stage signed off before progressing
- Job record maintained throughout
What this means in practice
A movement is never rushed through cleaning to meet a deadline. If something is found at the regulation stage that requires going back to disassembly, the sequence restarts. The owner is told, and the timeline adjusted accordingly.
Owner communication
Leaving a watch at a repair shop and hearing nothing for weeks is a common frustration. Pinionworks addresses this directly. Every piece in for longer work has a defined set of update points, and the owner receives a brief note at each one — by phone or email, as preferred.
- Update at assessment completion
- Update when work-in-progress milestone reached
- Final note when ready for collection
Response time
Enquiries sent by email are responded to within one working day. Calls received during workshop hours are answered directly where possible or returned on the same day.
Pricing approach
Prices for the three services are published. For standard work within a service category, the price is the price. Additional costs for sourced parts or unusual complexity are agreed in writing before work begins — not presented at collection.
- Published prices for all three services
- No surprise additions at collection
- Parts costs agreed before fitting
Pricing range
Crystal polishing from ฿4,400. Dial refinishing from ฿9,500. Pocket watch and complication restoration from ฿34,500. All prices in Thai Baht inclusive of standard work within scope.
How We Compare
What most workshop visits offer — and what Pinionworks adds
| Feature | Typical Shop | Pinionworks |
|---|---|---|
| Written assessment before work begins | Verbal only | Standard on restoration |
| Staged updates during repair | Collection call only | Defined update points |
| Pocket watch restoration | Often declined | Specialist service |
| Complication movement work (repeaters, calendars) | Referred elsewhere | Accepted in-house |
| Published pricing before intake | Quote on inspection | Stated on website |
| Sympathetic dial refinishing (character preserved) | Standard refinish | Original colour matched where feasible |
| Regulation across multiple positions | Dial-up only typical | Five positions minimum |
Distinctive Features
What you will not find at most repair stops
Written scope agreement
Before any restoration begins, the scope and estimated cost are documented and agreed. If the work runs longer or requires parts, a revised note is issued and agreed again — not absorbed silently into the final bill.
Station-by-station job tracking
Each job has a physical record that moves with the piece through the workshop. Owners can ask at any point where their watch sits in the sequence and receive a specific answer.
Original parts preference policy
The default is to source original or period-correct parts. When that is not possible, the alternative is presented and agreed with the owner before fitting. Substitutions are never made silently.
Regulation results on record
For movements regulated at the workshop, the rate results across positions are noted in the job record and available to the owner. Not an estimate — the actual figures from the bench.
Milestones
The workshop in numbers
11+
Years of movement work
340+
Pieces through the workshop
96%
Turnaround within stated window
3
Specialist service areas
Thai Horological Association — Recognised Member
Full membership requiring verified workshop standards and ongoing competency record.
WOSTEP Foundation Training — Completed
Foundation-level training in mechanical watchmaking consistent with WOSTEP curriculum standards.
Chiang Mai Craft Traders Network — Member
Active member of the local craft trade association representing independent skilled workshops in the region.
Next Step
Ready to bring the piece in?
A short message about the watch and what you have noticed is all that is needed. The workshop will return with an initial view within one working day.