ratanahq.world
Watch displayed under workshop light

Client Experiences

What Clients Say After Their Watch Returns

Accounts from collectors, families, and travellers who brought watches to ratanahq.world — and what they found when the piece came back.

Return to Home

14+

Years in Bangkok

800+

Watches Returned

4.8

Average Rating

100%

Written Reports


Reviews

From the People Who Brought Watches to Us

NK

Nattakorn Khunsri

Bangkok · Collector

I brought in a 1960s Swiss movement that had not run in twelve years. The assessment came through in writing within a few days — clear, specific, with a realistic price. Six weeks later the watch came back running well, with photographs from each stage and a two-page written report. I have been collecting for twenty years and this is the most thorough documentation I have seen from any repair shop.

May 2025

WP

Wilai Phanomwan

Chiang Mai · Family heirloom

My grandmother's watch had a dial that had aged in patches and a crown that turned without engaging. I was nervous about any work on it — the dial patina felt like part of the watch's character. They photographed it first, sent me two options in writing, and I chose the sympathetic cleaning rather than refinishing. The crown was replaced, the dial cleaned very lightly, and the result is exactly what I hoped for.

April 2025

JS

James Schreiber

German expatriate · Bangkok

I came in for a crown renewal on a travel watch I have worn daily for many years. The work was done well and the written note on return was more detailed than I expected — they flagged that the tube showed some wear and explained why they had left it, which I appreciated. The wait for the correct crown to be sourced took a little longer than the initial estimate, but they messaged me before the deadline to explain.

April 2025

AC

Arisa Chaiyawat

Bangkok · First-time client

I had not used a watchmaker before and was not sure how to describe the problem. The staff were patient — they asked what I had noticed rather than assuming, wrote everything down, and gave me a clear explanation of what they found. The watch is a modest automatic I wear for work every day. It came back running three minutes per day better than before the service.

May 2025

PL

Priya Lertchai

Bangkok · Inherited piece

The watch belonged to my father's father. I did not know whether it was repairable or whether servicing would cost more than its practical value. They said the monetary value was beside the point for a decision like this — which I found refreshing — and gave me a thorough written assessment before I committed to anything. The full service took seven weeks. The photographs they sent during the work were extraordinary.

March 2025

TN

Thomas Ngiam

Singaporean · Visiting Bangkok

I left a watch for crown and stem work while visiting Bangkok on business. They communicated by email throughout, which suited me as I was not going to be in the city. The piece was ready on the agreed date and I collected it before flying home. The note on return was brief but specific — appropriate for a job of this scope — and the crown fits correctly now.

May 2025


Case Studies

Three Watches, Three Different Situations

Case Study · 01

A 1954 Dress Watch with a Stripped Crown

The Situation

A collector brought in a 1954 Swiss dress watch with a crown that turned freely without engaging the winding mechanism. The original crown was missing and a poorly-matched substitute had been fitted at some point, stripping the stem threads.

What We Did

We replaced the stem and sourced a period-correct crown in a matching finish. The case tube threads were intact and required no further work. A correct gasket was fitted and the winding action confirmed before return.

The Outcome

Watch returned in three weeks with correct winding action and written account of findings. Crown sourcing took nine days. Client noted the replacement was a closer period match than the previous substitute, which he had not expected.

"They found a crown that looked right on the watch, not just one that fitted. That distinction mattered to me."

Case Study · 02

A Three-Generation Family Watch for Full Service

The Situation

A family brought in a mechanical watch passed through three generations. The movement had not been serviced in over thirty years. It still ran but was losing approximately eight minutes per day, a figure that had worsened over the prior two years.

What We Did

Full disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, calibre-appropriate lubrication, gasket renewal, and final regulation across six positions. Three worn parts were replaced — each documented in the service report with part descriptions. Photographs shared at each significant stage.

The Outcome

Watch returned at seven weeks with a rate of approximately plus two seconds per day across positions. Complete photographic log and written report included. Family noted they now had the most thorough maintenance record the watch had carried in its entire history.

"We have a record now. Something we can pass along with the watch when the time comes."

Case Study · 03

Dial Restoration for a Collector's Piece with Valued Patina

The Situation

A collector brought in a 1970s sports watch with a dial that had developed uneven ageing — darker in one quadrant than the other — and hands that had lost most of their lume. He was uncertain whether to restore or preserve the ageing.

What We Did

We photographed the dial at high resolution and prepared written notes on both the sympathetic and substantive options. After two days of discussion, the client chose sympathetic cleaning for the dial and renewal of lume on the hands only. Work proceeded strictly within these agreed terms.

The Outcome

Dial returned with natural ageing preserved and surface dust removed. Hands renewed with period-appropriate lume colour. Three weeks total. Client remarked the contrast between the aged dial and refreshed hands was exactly the character he had hoped to achieve.

"They understood that 'leaving it' is a decision too, and treated it as such rather than defaulting to refinishing."

Visit or Contact Us

Find Us on Yaowarat Road

Telephone

+66 2 226 4837

Workshop

18 Yaowarat Road, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100

Hours

Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00
Sunday Closed


Credentials

Professional Standing

Horological Craftsman Certification

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 in Thailand

Collector Network Referral

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


Your Turn

Bring Your Watch for a Written Assessment

No commitment required after the assessment. We tell you what we find, describe what we propose, and leave the decision with you.

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