— Our Workshop
A Small Workshop That Takes Its Time
Ploen is a watch repair and restoration workshop in Bang Lamung, Chonburi. We work unhurriedly — because most watches deserve that.
Back to Home— Our Story
How Ploen Came to Be
Ploen began as a place where people in Bang Lamung could bring a watch they trusted and expect it to be treated with the same care they gave it. The name means "to enjoy something slowly" in Thai — and that is the spirit the workshop has kept since it opened.
The workshop serves the Chonburi region, including visitors and residents along the Eastern Seaboard and Pattaya area who want their watches looked at by someone who takes the work seriously. We are not a large service centre. We are a small team who prefer to handle fewer watches at a time and handle them well.
Over the years, the work has ranged from simple battery replacements to full overhauls of vintage mechanical movements, and from routine maintenance to the restoration of family heirlooms that had not been opened in decades. Each situation is different. Each watch arrives with its own condition and its own history, and we try to be responsive to that.
Our mission is straightforward: receive the watch in trust, assess it honestly, explain what we find, do the work carefully, and return it in better condition than it arrived. Nothing more than that.
— Values
What Guides Our Work
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Honesty about the work
We tell you what we find — including when a repair is not worth the cost relative to the watch's value. That assessment is yours to make, but you receive the information clearly.
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Respect for each piece
Watches that come in for restoration often carry significance beyond their monetary value. We are mindful of that throughout the process and will discuss any decision that might affect the watch's character.
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Thoroughness over speed
We give realistic timelines. The work takes as long as it needs to. A mechanical movement that has been overhauled properly should not need attention again for a good number of years.
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A record of what was done
For Full Service and Heirloom Restoration, we provide written documentation: what was found, what was done, which parts were renewed, and any ongoing notes about the watch.
— The Team
The People Behind the Bench
Khun Somsak
Master Watchmaker
Responsible for all mechanical service and restoration work. Has been working with movements of both Swiss and Japanese origin for over two decades.
Khun Napat
Quartz & Case Specialist
Handles battery services, quartz movement servicing, case cleaning, and water resistance testing. Patient and detail-oriented.
Khun Warisa
Client Relations
First point of contact for enquiries, drop-offs, and collections. Coordinates communication between the workshop and clients during service.
— Standards
How We Maintain Quality
Assessment Before Action
Each watch is examined under magnification before any service begins. We do not assume — we look, note, and explain what we find.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Movement components are cleaned ultrasonically with appropriate fluids before re-oiling. This removes residual lubricant breakdown products and fine debris.
Timing Measurement
Mechanical watches are regulated on a timing machine across multiple positions before being returned. We aim for a result that reflects the movement's design tolerance.
Water Resistance Testing
Where a watch is rated for water resistance, we test and confirm the rating after service and seal replacement, using pressure equipment appropriate to the watch's specification.
Secure Storage During Service
Each watch is logged individually and stored in a dedicated space. We do not mix parts between watches and track each piece through every stage.
Service Documentation
Full Service and Heirloom Restoration work is documented in writing. The record accompanies the watch when it is returned, and we retain a copy for reference.
— About Watch Repair in Chonburi
Mechanical watches contain dozens of small components — wheels, pinions, jewels, springs — each machined to close tolerances and dependent on one another for accurate operation. Over time, the lubricants that allow these parts to move freely break down, and the watch begins to lose accuracy or stops altogether. A Full Service addresses this by disassembling the movement, cleaning each part, renewing worn components, applying fresh oils in the right quantities, and regulating the result.
Quartz watches are considerably simpler in their movements, but still require periodic attention. Batteries can leak and damage contacts if left in the watch too long. Seals dry out and lose their effectiveness. A Battery & Care service addresses these practical concerns and extends the useful life of the watch.
Older and inherited watches present a different kind of work. The goal in restoration is conservation rather than renovation — maintaining what is original, treating the patina and wear as part of the watch's character, and making the watch functional without erasing its history. This is patient work, done in consultation with the owner at each significant decision point.
Ploen serves clients in Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Sri Racha, Chonburi town, and the wider Eastern Seaboard area. We welcome walk-in enquiries and can also discuss arrangements for those further afield who would like to use our services.
Ready to Bring a Watch In?
Use the contact form or call us to discuss your watch before bringing it in. We are happy to answer questions about condition or suitability before you make the trip.