Client Experiences
What owners say after
collecting their watches.
We let the work speak. These are notes from clients who trusted us with pieces that mattered to them.
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Notes from clients
Somkiat Kruaphan
Chiang Mai
"I brought in my father's Seiko that had stopped working about four years ago. I was not sure what to expect — the watch is old and I did not want it damaged further. Rattikala explained what had seized and what the overhaul would involve. They contacted me midway when they found a worn part and asked before replacing it. The watch came back running steadily. Worth the wait."
Complete Care Programme · June 2025
Nanthida Phoonsuk
Chiang Mai · Freelance Designer
"Simple and honest. I came in with a watch that just needed a battery — I was half expecting to be told it needed some costly overhaul. They replaced the battery, cleaned the case, and that was that. Came back for a Standard Overhaul on my husband's automatic a few months later. Same calm, clear process."
Simple Service · May 2025
James Moorfield
British Expat, Chiang Mai
"I've used watch repairers in Bangkok and in the UK. Rattikala is the first workshop where I've felt I actually understood what was happening to my watch throughout the service. They explained the timing results before and after, which I found reassuring. The workshop is small and focused — no frills, but good work."
Standard Overhaul · June 2025
Wanchai Charoenpan
Lamphun
"I drove from Lamphun specifically because a friend recommended them for vintage pieces. I had a 1974 pocket watch that belonged to my grandfather — in poor condition but still intact. Anothai talked through the piece carefully and gave me an honest picture of what was possible. The restoration took about five weeks. I am very pleased with the result."
Complete Care Programme · May 2025
Achara Thammarat
Chiang Mai · Hotel Manager
"I have three watches serviced here over the past two years. Each time the communication has been clear and the pricing consistent with the quote. One of the watches is a dive watch — I was glad they did a proper pressure test after the seal work, not something every repair shop bothers with."
Standard Overhaul × 3 · 2024 – 2025
Robert Lim
Singapore (Visiting Chiang Mai)
"I was in Chiang Mai for two weeks and took in a watch I'd been meaning to service for a couple of years. They did a Standard Overhaul — I collected it before leaving and it was running well. Good timing, considering I'm not local. Would arrange ahead of time for anything more complex."
Standard Overhaul · June 2025
In Detail
Three watches, three different situations
The Situation
A daily ETA 2824 that had drifted noticeably
The owner had worn the watch daily for seven years. It had begun gaining around three minutes per day — manageable, but frustrating. He was unsure whether it needed a full overhaul or just an adjustment.
What We Did
Standard Overhaul with timing data before and after
The movement was disassembled, ultrasonically cleaned, and lubricated. Timing showed the mainspring was slightly weak but still serviceable. After regulation and a week on the bench, the watch was holding within two seconds per day.
The Outcome
Reliable daily performance, returned in 16 days
The owner collected the watch with the timing printouts. He was told the mainspring would likely need renewal at the next service in five to seven years. No hidden additions — just the agreed service and a clear picture of the watch's condition.
The Situation
A grandmother's dress watch, stopped for two decades
A client brought in a small ladies' dress watch that had stopped long before she received it as an inheritance. The case was in reasonable condition but the crown was stiff and the movement had not been opened in what appeared to be many years.
What We Did
Complete Care, with gentle case attention
Full disassembly revealed dried lubricants throughout and a hairspring with slight distortion. We discussed the findings before continuing. The hairspring was carefully adjusted and the movement rebuilt. We advised against polishing the case to preserve the original patina.
The Outcome
Running again, original character preserved
The watch ran at around minus four seconds per day after settling — acceptable for a movement of that age. The client was advised to have it checked again in three years given its history. She was pleased it was running at all.
The Situation
A dive watch with leaking crown after holiday use
The owner had used his dive watch extensively in the sea. On returning he noticed moisture inside the crystal — a sign the seals had failed. He was concerned about the movement condition after the water ingress.
What We Did
Standard Overhaul with seal renewal and pressure test
The movement had experienced light moisture but no significant corrosion — caught early. All seals were renewed, the crown and stem replaced, and the case pressure-tested to its rated specification. Movement was cleaned and regulated.
The Outcome
Fully restored to water-resistant specification
The watch passed pressure testing at its original rating. The owner was advised to have the seals checked every two years regardless of use, and to always ensure the crown is screwed down before immersion. He was back in the water within a month.
The Studio in Numbers
Some figures from fifteen years of work
15+
Years on Tha Phae Road
3,200+
Timepieces Serviced
4.8
Average Client Rating
94%
Returning Clients
Find Us
Contact the studio
Phone
+66 2 468 9271Address
54 Tha Phae Rd
Chiang Mai 50200
Hours
Mon–Fri 9–18
Sat 9–15
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