ratanahq.world
Watch repair precision tools

Our Approach

The Difference Between Handling a Watch and Looking After One

Six working principles that shape every piece we receive, from a quick crown renewal to a months-long heirloom calibre service.

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Core Advantages

Six Things That Shape Our Work

Assessment Before Action

Every watch receives a written assessment of condition before any work begins. You know what is proposed and why before we pick up a tool.

Calibre-Appropriate Materials

Lubricants, gaskets, and replacement parts are chosen for the specific movement in hand — not sourced from a general-purpose stock and applied uniformly.

Photographic Record

The condition of your watch before and during service is documented at high resolution. These images are shared with you and kept as part of the service record.

Nothing Beyond Agreed Scope

If something outside the original scope is discovered during work, we pause and discuss it with you before proceeding. Scope additions require separate agreement in writing.

Written Service Report

Your watch is returned with a written account of what was found, what was done, which parts were replaced, and what was left as found — a permanent record, not a verbal summary.

Realistic Timelines

We give honest timeframes at the start and contact you if anything changes. Heirloom services take five to eight weeks; crown work typically completes in a few working days.


Expertise

Trained on Movements, Not on Categories

Our watchmakers have worked on mechanical and automatic calibres across Swiss, German, and Japanese production — from mass-produced pieces with straightforward service requirements to scarce vintage movements where replacement parts must be made or sourced individually.

The breadth matters because it shapes how a movement is read before it is touched. A technician who has handled a calibre before can tell the difference between wear that requires intervention and wear that is within normal range for the age of the piece.

  • Mechanical and automatic movements from multiple production traditions
  • Heirloom calibres including those with scarce or discontinued parts
  • Dial assessment and sympathetic or substantive restoration options
  • Crown and stem work, including case tube assessment and replacement

How a Typical Service Proceeds

  1. 01 Watch received and inspected. Written assessment shared with owner before any work begins.
  2. 02 Owner approves scope in writing. Price agreed. Timeline given.
  3. 03 Work completed with photographic documentation at each meaningful stage.
  4. 04 Movement regulated across multiple positions and checked over at least 24 hours.
  5. 05 Watch returned with written service report and photographs from the service.

Process

A Method That Has No Shortcuts

The process we follow for each watch is the same regardless of how long the service takes. Written before. Written after. Photography throughout. No steps are skipped for simpler jobs.

This consistency means that the documentation you receive from a crown renewal is as thorough as the documentation from a full calibre overhaul, scaled to the scope of the work.

Value

Pricing Set Before Work Begins

Our three services are priced clearly: ฿ 4,600 for crown and stem renewal, ฿ 11,500 for dial and hand restoration, and ฿ 14,200 for a full heirloom calibre service. These figures cover the work as described.

If anything beyond the agreed scope requires attention, we discuss it separately before it is added to the job. The price you agreed at the start is not revised without a separate written conversation.

Service Pricing

Crown & Stem Renewal ฿ 4,600
Dial & Hand Restoration ฿ 11,500
Heirloom Calibre Full Service ฿ 14,200

Comparison

How Our Approach Differs

What to Consider Typical Repair Shop ratanahq.world
Written assessment before work
Photographic documentation throughout
Price agreed before work begins Sometimes
No scope additions without written approval
Calibre-appropriate lubricants selected per job Varies
Written service report on return

What Sets Us Apart

Distinctive Features of Our Service

A Record That Belongs to the Watch

Our service reports travel with the piece — not filed away in our office. When a watch changes hands, the new owner receives the same account of past work that the original owner held.

Written Communication Throughout

Assessments, options, approvals, and findings are all confirmed in writing. There is no ambiguity about what was agreed and no reliance on memory of a telephone conversation.

Workshop on Yaowarat Road

We are on the street where Bangkok's trade in fine objects has been practised for over a century. You can visit the workshop and speak directly with the person working on your piece.

Sympathetic Dial Options

For dials with collector-valued patina, we offer a sympathetic approach — careful cleaning without alteration — as a distinct option alongside more substantive restoration. The owner chooses.


Milestones

A Track Record Measured in Pieces Returned

14+

Years on Yaowarat Road

800+

Watches Serviced

3

Certified Watchmakers

100%

Written Reports on Return

Horological Craftsman

Certification in mechanical movement service, Swiss Institute of Horology correspondence programme

Thailand Horological Association

Active member since 2012, contributing to professional standards for independent watch repair workshops

Collector Network Referral

Regularly referred by Bangkok's collector community for heirloom calibre work requiring patient handling and thorough documentation


Take the Next Step

Bring Your Watch in for a Written Assessment

There is no commitment to proceed after the assessment. We tell you what we find, describe what we propose, and leave the decision with you.

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