Who We Are
Brasswind Workshop
Brasswind came together on Charoen Krung Road — a street with its own long history of jewellers, goldsmiths, and fine goods. We found a space with good light and enough room to work carefully, and we've been here since.
The name references the aged brass of movement components seen under a loupe — the particular colour a well-worn caliber takes on after years of use. It's a colour we find honest. There's nothing to hide in a movement that's been properly cared for.
Our approach came from dissatisfaction with how timepieces are often treated: either turned around too fast, or over-restored until they look newer than when they left the factory. Neither sits right with us. A watch has a life of its own — scratches, patina, case wear — and the owner generally knows which marks they want to keep.
So we slow down. We assess first. We share what we find. We ask before we do anything that can't be undone. This isn't a philosophy we invented; it's just what good craft requires.
Our Mission
To attend to each timepiece at a pace that matches what it needs — neither rushing the work nor overcomplicating it. Owners understand their own watches; our role is to inform and then act on whatever they decide.
Our View on Restoration
Restoration, to us, means returning function — not erasing history. We're cautious about anything that removes original character. When there's doubt about a particular step, we leave it and discuss it with the owner first.
Bangkok's Historic Street
Charoen Krung Road has housed craftspeople for well over a century. We're glad to work here — the neighbourhood understands what careful work looks like, and that suits us.
The People
Who Works Here
Small team, hands-on work. Everyone in the workshop has handled the full servicing process from start to finish.
Nattapon Thawiwat
Head Watchmaker
Attended to mechanical movements for over fifteen years, with a particular interest in older Swiss and Japanese calibers. Handles all heritage overhauls and complication work personally.
Siriporn Kasem
Case & Dial Specialist
Works primarily on case finishing and crystal replacement, with a careful hand that avoids taking more off a surface than the owner intends. Conducts all pre-work assessments.
Worawut Petcharat
Service Technician
Handles routine servicing and quartz movement care. Writes up the service records for each piece and keeps owners updated during the work period when needed.
How We Work
Standards We Hold Ourselves To
Intake Photography
Every piece is photographed on arrival — case, dial, crown, caseback. This record belongs to the owner and forms part of the intake document.
Movement Inspection First
Before any cleaning or lubrication, the movement is assessed under magnification. Worn components, damaged jewels, and mainspring condition are noted before the first tool touches anything.
Calibre-Specific Lubrication
Different movement types require different lubricants at different points. We follow calibre-appropriate specifications rather than a one-lubricant approach.
Timing Machine Regulation
After assembly, each mechanical movement is tested on a timing machine in multiple positions. Results are included in the written service record returned with the watch.
Secure Storage During Work
Watches not on the bench are stored in a locked cabinet. The workshop is not accessible to the public during working hours. Access is controlled throughout each day.
Owner Consent at Each Stage
If work beyond the agreed scope becomes apparent mid-service, we stop and contact the owner. Nothing additional proceeds without an updated agreement.
Craft & Context
Mechanical Watchmaking in Bangkok
Bangkok's Charoen Krung Road has a long association with fine objects — antique dealers, silversmiths, and watchmakers have worked along this street for generations. Brasswind is part of that continuing presence, though we think less about tradition as a label and more about what actually constitutes careful work in practice.
Watch servicing in Thailand has grown considerably as interest in mechanical timepieces has developed among younger collectors. Many pieces arrive from families — a father's dress watch, a grandfather's field watch — where the owner doesn't know much about the movement but understands that it matters. We find those conversations particularly worthwhile. A good briefing at intake often shapes the whole service.
Complication overhauls — chronographs, perpetual calendars, moon phases — require dismantling mechanisms with dozens of interacting parts, cleaning each component individually, then reassembling with the tolerances the original design demanded. This is slow work. It can't be abbreviated without consequence. We make that clear at the outset, and we find that most owners who've brought in a complicated piece already understood that before they walked in.
Case finishing is a topic with more nuance than it first appears. A heavily polished case on a vintage watch can reduce its collector interest significantly, while leaving a service-worn case completely unaddressed might mean corrosion continues underneath. The owner's preferences and the piece's specific condition both inform what we recommend. We present options; we don't prescribe.
Our written records are a practical thing, not a marketing gesture. When a watch comes back in five or eight years, the record tells the next technician what lubricants were used, what the timing showed, and which components were noted as worn at the previous service. That continuity benefits the watch over its lifetime.
Work With Us
Bring Your Watch In for a Look
Whether it's stopped, running slow, or simply due for care — we're happy to take a look and share what we find. No pressure to proceed.
Contact the Workshop