Why Rattikala
What distinguishes careful
watch repair from a quick fix.
There are many places to leave a watch. Fewer that will take real time with it, explain what they find, and return it only when the work is done well.
Back to HomeAt a Glance
Six things that define how we work
Skilled Watchmakers
Our team has worked with Swiss mechanical and Japanese quartz movements for over fifteen years. Most calibres we see are not new to us.
Assessment Before Agreement
We examine every watch before recommending a service. Nothing is agreed until you understand what we have found and what it would involve.
Proper Settling Time
After reassembly, a watch rests and runs on the bench for several days. We observe its rate over time before it is returned — not just at the moment of completion.
Clear Ongoing Communication
If anything changes during a service — an unexpected finding, a part that needs sourcing — we contact you before continuing. You are never left to wonder.
Appropriate Tools
We use professional-grade ultrasonic cleaning equipment, a timing machine, and a pressure tester for water-resistant cases. The right tools make a measurable difference to the quality of the work.
Priced by Service Level
Our three programmes — from ฿2,300 to ฿12,100 — are designed to match different watches and different needs. You are not paying for more than your watch requires.
Expertise
Experience that comes from working, not reading
The watchmakers at Rattikala have spent years at the bench, not only in training. Anothai Rungsri, who founded the studio, trained in Bangkok and worked on imported movements before returning to Chiang Mai. That background — practical, varied, and extended — shapes how we handle each piece.
A watch that has been in a drawer for a decade, an heirloom with an obscure calibre, a dive watch brought in after years of heavy use — these are not unusual situations for us. Most of what comes through the door, we have encountered before in some form.
Movement types we work with
Equipment in the studio
Technology
The right tools, used properly
A timing machine gives us measurable data on how a movement performs after adjustment. Without one, a watchmaker is estimating. With one, we can see rate accuracy across six positions and adjust accordingly — then confirm the result before the watch leaves the bench.
Pressure testing matters for any watch with a water resistance claim. Many workshops skip this step. We do not — particularly for dive watches, sport models, and any piece that has had its seals renewed as part of a service.
Customer Experience
A service that respects your time and trust
When you leave a watch with us, you receive a written intake record. You are told what we have noticed, what service we recommend, and what the work will involve. If anything changes, we call before proceeding.
We do not use pressure to encourage unnecessary work. If a watch is in good condition and needs only a battery change, that is what we will say. The relationship we value is one where owners come back because the advice was sound, not because they were kept uncertain.
What you receive at intake
How We Compare
Rattikala versus a typical quick-service option
| Feature | Typical Quick Service | Rattikala |
|---|---|---|
| Initial assessment and explanation | Often skipped | Always provided |
| Written intake record | Rarely | Standard practice |
| Timing machine used post-service | Varies widely | Yes, for all overhauls |
| Pressure testing after seal renewal | Usually not done | Yes, every time |
| Bench settling period | Minimal or none | Several days minimum |
| Contact if scope changes | Not always | Always, before continuing |
| Experience with vintage/complicated pieces | Often referred elsewhere | Within our scope |
What Sets Us Apart
Things that are less common elsewhere
We explain the work in plain language
We are happy to show you what we found, walk through what a service involves, or explain what a particular component does. You should leave with a clear picture of what happened to your watch.
Heirloom and sentimental watches are treated differently
A watch that has been worn every day for thirty years carries more than mechanical wear. We recognise that and handle these pieces with corresponding caution. Discussion is always part of the intake process for older or personal pieces.
We recommend the level of service the watch actually needs
Not every watch that comes in requires a Complete Care programme. If a Simple Service is appropriate, we will say so. The three-tier structure is there to match different situations — not to upsell.
The same people, in the same building, for fifteen years
Continuity matters in craft work. Anothai and the core team have been at Tha Phae Road since 2009. If you bring a watch back years later, you will likely recognise who looks after it.
The Studio in Numbers
Milestones since 2009
15+
Years in Chiang Mai
3,200+
Watches Serviced
3
Experienced Staff
94%
Returning Clients
Chiang Mai Business Directory
Featured listing — 2022
Recognised among established specialist repair services in the northern Thailand region.
Thailand Horological Society
Associate Member since 2015
Membership in the national watchmaking and repair practitioners community.
Professional Watchmaking Certificate
Completed — Bangkok Institute of Trade, 2007
Formal qualification held by studio founder covering mechanical movement service and adjustment.
Take the First Step
Ready to bring your watch in?
We are on Tha Phae Road, Monday to Saturday. Drop in, or send a message and we will be in touch at a time that suits you.
Send an Enquiry