Our Story
Founded on Patience,
Guided by Craft
Garuda Gearworks grew from a simple belief — that every mechanical watch, from a daily workhorse to a family heirloom, deserves careful, honest attention.
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A Workshop Built Around the Work
Garuda Gearworks opened its doors in Patong, Phuket, with one purpose: to bring thoughtful, well-documented watch repair to a part of Thailand where visitors and long-term residents alike often struggle to find a repairer they can trust. The name draws on the mythological Garuda — patient, sharp-eyed, and purposeful — qualities we try to bring to every piece that crosses our workbench.
Our workshop is a small one by design. We accept a considered number of jobs so that each watch receives the attention it needs rather than passing through a queue. When you leave a watch with us, you will know who is working on it, what they are doing, and when to expect it back.
The workshop handles modern mechanical movements and antique calibres with equal care. Whether the task is a routine service on a sports watch or the slow, methodical restoration of a pocket watch that has not run in thirty years, we approach it at the pace the work demands.
Our Mission
Transparency at Every Stage
Our mission is straightforward: to carry out watch repairs and restorations with clarity, skill, and respect for the owner's attachment to their timepiece. We do not quote vaguely, begin work without agreement, or return a watch without explaining what was done and why.
We are particularly attentive to the humid conditions of southern Thailand. Moisture and salt air are demanding on seals, springs, and lubricants, and many of the watches we see have suffered quietly over months or years. We address these issues directly and advise owners honestly about what to expect from their watch going forward.
For collectors and those who have inherited an older piece, we understand that the watch may carry history worth preserving. Restoration decisions are made together with the owner, and we are as comfortable recommending a conservative approach as a full mechanical rebuild.
The People
Those Who Look After Your Watch
Krit Pattanakorn
Master Watchmaker
Trained in Switzerland and working with mechanical movements for over eighteen years, Krit leads all technical work at the workshop, with a particular interest in vintage calibres.
Nattaya Wipha
Restoration Specialist
Nattaya focuses on antique movements and dial conservation. She brings a steady hand and a historian's patience to pieces where original character matters as much as function.
Prem Sirikul
Client Liaison
Prem coordinates intake, documentation, and communication with clients. He ensures that every watch is logged carefully and that owners receive clear updates throughout the repair process.
Workshop Standards
How We Work
Condition Documentation
Each watch received is photographed and given a written condition note before any work begins. This record stays with the watch throughout its time in our workshop.
Timed Rate Testing
For serviced movements, we record the rate in multiple positions before and after regulation. The figures are provided to the owner as part of the service record.
Seal Integrity Checks
Where the case design allows, we test resistance after seal replacements and provide a clear, honest assessment of appropriate water contact going forward.
Secure Storage
Watches in our care are stored in a locked, climate-controlled workshop area. No piece is left unattended on an open bench outside working hours.
Owner Consent Before Work
No repair or restoration work begins without the owner's clear agreement. Parts, costs, and scope are confirmed in writing or by message before we proceed.
Original-Part Preference
Wherever original or period-correct parts can be sourced, we use them. For antique movements, hand-finished replacements are made when original parts are unobtainable.
Our Approach
Watch Repair Rooted in the Craft
Mechanical watchmaking is an old discipline, and the workshop at Garuda Gearworks tries to honour that tradition without romanticising it. Good watch repair is methodical, careful, and honest. It requires the right tools, the right lubricants, and the patience to work within the tolerances the movement demands — sometimes measured in hundredths of a millimetre.
In a tropical environment like Phuket's, watches are exposed to conditions that challenge seals, accelerate corrosion, and break down lubricants faster than in cooler climates. We factor this into every service, using lubricants selected for warm-weather performance and advising owners on how to get the longest and most reliable wear from their watch.
We work on a wide range of movements — from common Swiss-lever escapements to older cylinder and verge pocket watch calibres. Antique American and English pocket watches are a particular area of experience in the workshop. If you are unsure whether we can help with your watch, we are happy to take a brief look before anything is formally logged in.
Our location in Patong, near the heart of Phuket's visitor community, means we are accessible to both island residents and those spending time in Phuket on a longer stay. We are also happy to advise by email if you are planning to visit or are in another part of Thailand and considering sending a watch to us.
Ready to discuss your timepiece?
Whether it is a straightforward service or a complex restoration, we are glad to take a look and talk through the options.
Get in Touch