Wualai Road · Chiang Mai
A Small Workshop,
Built on Patience
Chaiya is a watch repair and restoration workshop in the old craft quarter of Chiang Mai. We work on mechanical timepieces — from daily wearers that need freshening to heirlooms that deserve careful attention.
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How Chaiya Began
Chaiya started as a practical place — a workshop where watches could be brought for honest, thorough attention without needing to travel to Bangkok. The name comes from a word meaning light, which felt right for work that involves looking very carefully at small things.
The workshop sits on Wualai Road, a street long associated with traditional craft in Chiang Mai. That feels appropriate. The surrounding goldsmiths and silversmiths have always worked slowly and with their hands, and we try to hold to the same unhurried standard.
Most of what we do is mechanical — hand-wound and automatic movements from watches made over the past century. Some are everyday pieces that their owners rely on. Others are older, sometimes fragile, and need more thought before anything is touched. We approach both kinds with the same care.
We're a small team. That means the person who speaks with you about your watch is usually the same person who works on it. We think that matters.
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Services Offered
From a careful polish to a full patient restoration — matched to what the watch genuinely needs.
Wualai Road
Craft Quarter, Chiang Mai
On a street known for traditional artisan work — silver, gold, and now mechanical watches.
Honest
Timelines Always
We share realistic timelines at the start — no pressure to rush work that shouldn't be rushed.
What Guides Us
Our Approach in Practice
These aren't aspirations — they're the things we try to do with every watch that comes through the door.
Look Before Acting
We assess carefully and speak with you about findings before any work begins. Nothing is assumed or rushed into.
Keep You Informed
If something unexpected surfaces during the work, we stop and contact you. You decide what happens next.
Work at the Right Pace
Good repair takes the time it needs. We don't compress timelines at the expense of the result.
Respect the Object
We handle each watch carefully — especially older pieces. Original finishes and details are preserved where possible.
Document What We Find
For restoration work especially, we record what we find and what we do — and share that with you when the watch is returned.
Stand Behind the Work
If something seems off after collection, come back. We'll take a look and address it.
The Team
Who Works on Your Watch
We're a small team, which means direct conversations and consistent care for every piece.
Krit Chaiya
Lead Watchmaker
Trained in mechanical watchmaking and responsible for servicing and restoration work. Krit handles the technical assessment for every watch that comes in.
Narin Pattana
Case & Finishing
Narin focuses on case polishing, cosmetic finishing, and bracelet work. Her attention to surface detail complements the movement work.
Malee Thongdee
Client Communication
Malee handles enquiries and keeps clients updated on their watches throughout the service period — the point of contact for most questions.
Standards
How We Work on Movements
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Movement parts are ultrasonically cleaned before reassembly. This removes old lubricant residue and debris without risk of mechanical damage.
Correct Lubrication
Each pivot, jewel, and keyless works position receives the lubricant suited to its function — not a single general oil applied throughout.
Timing Regulation
After servicing, movements are timed across multiple positions using a timing machine to bring them within a practical daily rate.
Gasket Renewal
Crown, caseback, and crystal gaskets are replaced as part of a service. An older gasket is not reinstalled once the case has been opened.
Parts Sourcing
Where replacement parts are needed, we source from established suppliers. We discuss any substitution with you before fitting it.
Secure Handling
Watches are kept securely in the workshop. We don't hand off work to third parties without your knowledge and agreement.
Workshop & Craft
Mechanical Watch Care in Chiang Mai
Mechanical watches — whether hand-wound pocket watches, vintage automatics, or modern mechanical pieces — need periodic attention. The oils that lubricate their movements dry out or migrate over years of use, and parts that are not properly supported eventually show wear. A watch serviced at the right intervals runs better and lasts longer.
Chaiya focuses specifically on mechanical movements. We don't work on quartz or battery-powered watches as a general offering. This focus lets us apply consistent knowledge and technique to the kind of work we do most — stripping, cleaning, lubricating, adjusting, and timing calibres that have been produced across more than a century of watchmaking.
Restoration work is a different discipline from routine service. With older or cherished pieces, the decision about what to do — and what to leave — requires judgment and conversation with the owner. We take time over that conversation. A dial that carries its age honestly may be more appropriate to clean than to refinish. We try to give that advice honestly.
If you're in Chiang Mai and looking for a workshop for a specific watch, you're welcome to come in and talk about what you have. There's no charge for that initial conversation, and no obligation to proceed until you're satisfied with our assessment.
Have a Watch That Needs Attention?
Come in during workshop hours, or send us a message to arrange a conversation about what you have.
Send a Message