Chiang Mai — Our Story
A studio built on patience
and honest craft.
We opened Rattikala because we believed watch repair deserved more than a quick turnaround. It deserved proper attention.
Back to HomeOur Beginning
How Rattikala came to be
Rattikala opened in 2009 on Tha Phae Road, in a small workshop that has since become a familiar stop for watch owners across Chiang Mai. The name — drawn from a Thai word meaning a delicate mechanism — was chosen deliberately. It describes both the watches we care for and the manner in which we work.
The studio was founded by Khun Anothai Rungsri, a watchmaker who trained in Bangkok and spent several years working with imported Swiss movements before returning north. The workshop began with two benches and a single ultrasonic cleaner. By 2014 we had grown enough to take on a second watchmaker and expand the service range to include complicated mechanical pieces.
Today, the studio handles several hundred timepieces each year. The pace has not changed: each watch receives a proper assessment before work begins, and it leaves only when it is running well. That part has never varied.
What We Believe
Our approach to every piece
A watch is often more than an instrument for telling time. It may carry years of use, a connection to someone important, or simply the satisfaction of a well-made object continuing to work as it should. We hold that in mind when we open the caseback.
Our three service programmes — Simple Service, Standard Overhaul, and Complete Care — were designed to be appropriate to need. We do not suggest more work than a watch requires. If a battery and clean is the right answer, that is what we say.
Questions are welcome throughout the process. We are happy to talk through what we find, explain what a particular component does, or walk you through a decision about whether a part should be replaced. The watch belongs to you, and the choices should be yours.
The People
The hands behind the work
Anothai Rungsri
Founder & Senior Watchmaker
Trained in Bangkok and focused on Swiss mechanical movements for over 18 years. Anothai leads assessments on all complicated and vintage pieces.
Pimwadee Wattana
Watchmaker
Specialises in Japanese movements and quartz calibres, with particular knowledge of Seiko and Citizen service protocols. Joined Rattikala in 2014.
Nattawut Somchai
Studio Coordinator
Handles client communication, intake documentation, and parts sourcing. Nattawut ensures owners are informed at every stage of a service.
Our Standards
How we maintain the quality of our work
Ultrasonic Cleaning
All movement parts are cleaned ultrasonically before reassembly. This removes old lubricants and debris from components that cannot be reached by hand.
Timing Measurement
We use a timing machine to measure rate accuracy before and after overhaul. Adjustments are made until the movement holds its rate within acceptable tolerances.
Pressure Testing
Watches with a water resistance rating are tested with a dry pressure machine after seal renewal. We confirm the case holds specification before returning the watch.
Written Condition Report
Each watch enters the studio with a written intake record noting visible condition, markings, and any concerns. This stays with the piece throughout and goes home with the owner.
Correct Lubricants
We use manufacturer-appropriate oils and greases for each movement type. Lubricant selection varies by component — a mainspring, pallet fork, and keyless work each require different products.
Secure Handling
Watches are stored in individual protective pouches when not on the bench. We do not leave movements exposed or disassembled overnight. Each piece is accounted for at the end of every working day.
Our Expertise
Watch repair in Chiang Mai, done with care
Rattikala works across a broad range of mechanical and quartz movements. Swiss calibres from ETA, Sellita, and various vintage manufacturers sit comfortably alongside Japanese movements from Seiko, Miyota, and Citizen. Most complications — date, chronograph, power reserve, moon phase — fall within the scope of what we can address during a Complete Care service.
Our location on Tha Phae Road places us close to the old city, making it straightforward for Chiang Mai residents and visitors to bring a watch in. We welcome walk-in enquiries and are also happy to discuss a piece by phone or email before you make the journey.
The watchmaking community in northern Thailand is small, and word-of-mouth has brought most of our clients to us. We are grateful for that trust and try to earn it with each piece we return. A watch that was brought to us drifting or stopping should leave the studio running steadily, cleaned, and — where needed — properly sealed.
We have been doing this work in the same building for more than fifteen years. The tools are better, the parts sourcing is more reliable, and the team has grown — but the approach has not changed. Take time with the watch. Communicate clearly. Return it only when it is right.
Ready to Proceed
Bring your watch to the studio
We are open Monday to Saturday on Tha Phae Road. Come in, show us your watch, and we will talk through what it needs — no pressure, no obligation to proceed on the day.
Enquire Now