On the top floor of the PU Watch showroom, eagle-eyed artisans are putting the final touches on the brand’s next release.

For two years, the company has been handcrafting luxury timepieces and carving out a place for Cambodia on the horological map.

Pu – which roughly translates as “mister” in Khmer – produces the first watch to be made in Cambodia.

Coming off a successful run after having sold out of each of its first three models, founder Pu Ti is eying the $750 million Vietnamese watch market with the “Oyster” collection, due to be released next month.

Proudly stamped “Khmer Made” on the bezel, the PU Oyster marks a special milestone for the company. As a testament to the firm’s aspirations as watchmakers, it is assembling movements and designing certain components.

“Paying $300 or $400 is not a lot for people in foreign countries, but in Cambodia it is a lot of money. So we have made something people really desire, but perhaps is not as easy for people in my country to buy,” Ti told The Post.

The Oyster is PU’s first attempt at the manufacturing of scale.

It took the company one week to complete its inaugural “Traditional” watch, while it aims to produce 10 Oyster timepieces over three days.

Ti said the watch pays homage to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual – it features a sweeping second hand, a cyclops date magnifier and a mother of pearl face.

“When we first started the business I had to decide if I wanted to do something easy that anyone could copy, or something difficult that no one else can do.

“Making the movement ourselves has been PU Watch’s goal since the beginning, and this is one step towards that. We have always wanted to provide the best quality for the lowest price possible,” said Ti.

Ti stressed that he struggled to keep up with demand with his first models, saying that “many customers would call me up and place orders for watches sight unseen”.

PU used Citizen’s well-respected 21-jewel Miyota movement for its previous “Classic”, “Traditional” and “Engraved” models.

It has sold over 550 watches since its inception. While that number may sound small, the company has sold out of each of its previous two models, with the Classic and the Traditional taking one week per unit to complete.

The limited-run “Engraved” series, which retailed for $3,500 to $10,000, was released to celebrate the company’s second anniversary.

It took 30 days to finish.

At the top of the Engraved line is the red-faced “Reahou” – named after the mythological creature venerated on the walls of Angkor Wat – and meticulously carved into the side of the watchcase with 24-carat gold.

The one-off timepiece features a stainless steel skeleton watchcase with a diamond-encrusted Arabic-numeral dial and a stingray leather strap.

“These are special watches because we are engraving real Angkor art. Other brands, like Patek Philipe, also make beautiful watches, but this is something they cannot do because it is our art and our story. We probably will not make anything like this again,” said Ti.

Ti’s vision for the company is not only to cement his company as recognised watchmakers but also to become a Cambodian luxury brand by expanding its presence at home and abroad.

“Even though some jewellery stores have contacted us to sell our watches, we have chosen to focus on our branding first, because they may sell our watches alongside more well recognised names or fake watches so our name would lose its prestige.

“I don’t want the money right now, I want to build the value of the brand first,” he said.