Client Experiences
Words From Owners Who Came Before You
Honest accounts from people who brought a watch to us — what they noticed, what they asked, and how things turned out.
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What Our Clients Say
Somchai Phattanaphan
Chiang Mai, TH
My grandfather's Omega had been sitting in a drawer for twelve years. I wasn't sure it was worth spending money on. Wanchai looked at it, explained the condition clearly, and gave me an honest sense of what to expect. The work took two weeks and the result was better than I'd hoped — it keeps reasonable time now and looks tidied rather than over-polished.
May 2025 · Full Overhaul
Nattakorn Kittiwong
Bangkok, TH · Collector
I've used several workshops in Bangkok and one in Singapore over the years. Thong Lanna is the only one where I've left feeling I understood exactly what was done and why. The before/after timegrapher printout was a nice touch — it removes any ambiguity. The pocket watch came back running within a few seconds per day.
April 2025 · Antique Restoration
Watcharee Thongchai
Chiang Mai, TH
I brought in my daily Seiko for a tune-up after noticing it running about two minutes fast each day. The service took four days and cost ฿4,200. The watch now runs within a few seconds. My only minor note is that I had to follow up once for an update, but the quality of the work itself was very good.
May 2025 · Tune-Up & Regulation
James Mackintosh
Edinburgh, UK · Visiting Chiang Mai
Spotted the workshop on Tha Phae Road while walking through. Dropped in on the off-chance with a Longines that had been losing time for months. Wanchai fitted me in for an assessment the same day, gave me a clear quote, and the watch was ready before I left the city. Genuinely impressive work on a short timeline.
April 2025 · Tune-Up & Regulation
Priya Lalchandani
Chiang Mai, TH · Expat resident
I had been looking for someone in Chiang Mai I could trust with my late mother's dress watch — a 1960s Swiss piece with a painted dial. Thong Lanna handled it with obvious care. They shared photographs at different stages, discussed every decision with me first, and returned it in considerably better condition than I expected.
May 2025 · Antique Restoration
Anuwat Suthipong
Lamphun, TH
Sent my vintage Rolex Oyster for a full overhaul. The communication was good throughout and Kraisorn consulted me on the case polishing before touching anything. The bracelet received only a light clean as I asked. Movement runs well. It took about twelve days start to finish, which seemed reasonable for the work involved.
April 2025 · Full Overhaul
Case Studies
A Closer Look at Three Restorations
The Situation
1948 Swiss Pocket Watch — Family Heirloom
A 15-jewel Swiss lever movement passed down through a Chiang Mai family. Had not run in over twenty years. The mainspring was broken and the escapement was completely dry. The enamel dial had a small chip at the six o'clock position.
The Work
Full Rebuild + Dial Stabilisation
Replacement mainspring sourced from a Swiss parts supplier. All pivot holes re-bushed. Escapement cleaned and regulated. The enamel chip was carefully consolidated to prevent further loss — the owner was consulted and chose not to fill it, preferring to preserve the original surface.
The Outcome
Running ±8 s/d · 3 Weeks
The movement was rebuilt over three weeks to allow time for careful sourcing and testing. Final rate of ±8 seconds per day — considered good for a movement of this age. The owner received a full restoration report and now has the watch in daily carry.
"It was my father's and now I wear it every day. That means more than I expected." — P.L., Chiang Mai
The Situation
1970s Automatic — Long-Neglected Daily Wearer
A Japanese automatic brought in by a Bangkok collector visiting Chiang Mai. The watch ran but was losing over four minutes per day. The case had accumulated significant wear on the lugs and crown tube. Last service unknown.
The Work
Overhaul + Selective Case Work
Full movement disassembly and ultrasonic clean. All bearings checked, balance staff found to be slightly bent — replaced. Crown tube re-tapped. Case brushed on the flat surfaces only, as the owner preferred to keep the original brushed finish rather than polish.
The Outcome
Running +3 s/d · 10 Days
Movement now regulated to +3 seconds per day. The balance staff replacement accounts for the majority of the improvement. The watch was completed within ten days, in time for the owner's departure from Chiang Mai.
"I've been wearing this watch for fifteen years. Nice to finally know what's going on inside it." — N.K., Bangkok
The Situation
Swiss Dress Watch — Erratic Timekeeping
A locally-owned Swiss dress watch serviced five years ago by a different workshop. Running but erratic — sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Owner noticed the variation depended on the wrist position. No case work needed.
The Work
Tune-Up & Full Regulation
Timegrapher confirmed significant beat error and poor results in crown-up position. Movement found to be over-oiled at the escapement from the previous service — excess oil had migrated to the pallet stones. Cleaned and re-regulated from scratch.
The Outcome
Consistent ±4 s/d · 5 Days
Consistent rate across all positions within five days. The owner was shown the before/after timegrapher results side by side — the improvement was clear. Total cost ฿4,200 for the tune-up service.
"Seeing the before and after readings helped me understand what the problem actually was." — W.T., Chiang Mai
Find Us
Visit the Workshop
Phone
+66 81 472 6053Address
26 Tha Phae Rd, Chang Khlan, Chiang Mai 50100
Hours
Mon–Sat: 10:00–18:00
Sun: By appointment
At a Glance
Trust Indicators
14
Years in operation
2,400+
Services completed
4.9
Average client rating
850+
Returning clients
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