Lanna Atelier
Watch repair tools and instruments

Our Advantages

What Makes the Difference When a Watch Matters

Fourteen years of specialist work in northern Thailand, with an approach built on transparency, technical depth, and genuine regard for each timepiece we are asked to tend.

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At a Glance

Six Reasons Owners Trust Lanna Atelier

Specialist Focus

We work only in horology — antique pocket watches, dials, and movements — rather than dividing attention across categories of repair. That narrowness produces depth.

Decision-Sharing

Every significant choice is discussed openly before work proceeds. The watch belongs to you; the decision belongs to you. Our role is to inform it clearly.

Documented Work

All commissions are recorded in writing — parts replaced, work undertaken, decisions noted. You receive a copy. This preserves the honesty of the piece's history.

Conservation-Led

We attempt the least interventive path first. Original surfaces, original calibers, original finishing — these are preserved where possible, not replaced as a default.

Rooted Locally

A physical workshop in Chiang Mai since 2011. You can visit, speak with the watchmaker directly, and collect your watch in person. There is no mystery in the process.

Stated Pricing

Service prices are published. If work grows in scope, we contact you before proceeding. The final bill does not exceed what was agreed without your prior consent.

Expertise

Fourteen Years in the Same Workshop

Horological skill of the kind needed for antique pocket watches is not acquired quickly. It builds through accumulated contact with movements of different periods, makers, and conditions — through mistakes made early and methods refined over years of practice.

At Lanna Atelier, the principal watchmaker has worked on pocket watches and vintage movements since 2008, supplemented by formal training in Switzerland and continuing study through horological literature and events. The result is a depth of knowledge that informs every assessment we make.

  • Formal watchmaking training

    Swiss-trained principal watchmaker with over 16 years' experience

  • Period-specific knowledge

    Familiarity with major pocket watch makers and calibers from the 1880s onward

  • Conservation-trained dial work

    Dial specialist with a background in fine art conservation

  • Ongoing professional study

    Regular engagement with horological literature and specialist events

  • Initial assessment visit

    We look at the watch with you and give a clear account of its condition before any work is agreed

  • Written scope of work

    The agreed work is set out in writing before the commission begins

  • Interim communication

    We contact you if anything unexpected arises during the work — no unilateral decisions

  • Collection documentation

    A written record of all work is given to you on collection

Process

A Process With No Surprises

Many owners of antique watches have had the experience of leaving a piece somewhere and receiving it back changed in ways they did not expect or agree to. This is a particular frustration with items of personal significance.

We have built our process specifically to prevent it. Every step — assessment, scope, interim findings, and completion — involves clear communication with the owner. Nothing is done without knowledge and agreement.

Service

A Workshop That Takes Its Time

We are a small workshop by design. This means that when you bring a watch to us, you speak with the people who will actually be working on it — not a counter assistant, not a coordinator. The assessment is given by the watchmaker.

It also means our response times for enquiries are personal. We aim to reply to all written messages within two working days, and we are reachable by telephone during workshop hours for anything more urgent.

  • Direct access to the watchmaker

    Assessments and decisions are handled by the people doing the work

  • Unhurried consultation

    We take the time to understand what each owner values about their piece before advising

  • Honest recommendations

    Including the recommendation to do nothing, when that is the most appropriate advice

  • Open workshop visits

    You are welcome to visit the workshop space in person on Nimmanhaemin Road

Comparison

Lanna Atelier vs. Typical Providers

Consideration Typical Providers Lanna Atelier
Pricing communicated before work begins
Conservation attempt before refinishing dials
Written record of all parts replaced
Owner consulted before scope changes Sometimes
Period-appropriate replacement parts sourced
Recommendation to leave a watch untouched (when appropriate)
Direct access to the watchmaker for discussion

What Sets Us Apart

Distinctives of This Workshop

Historical Reference Library

We maintain a working reference collection of technical literature, period catalogues, and caliber documentation — resources that inform decisions about parts, finishing, and approach on specific pieces.

Partnership with a Dial Studio

Where refinishing is agreed, we work with a specialist studio whose approach to recreating original dial colour, printing, and indices follows historical references — not generic stock alternatives.

Assessment Without Obligation

Bringing a watch in for assessment does not commit you to any work. We give our honest account of condition and options, and you decide freely from there — including whether to take it elsewhere.

Work Timed by the Piece, Not the Target

We do not set production targets. Each commission receives the time it genuinely requires. We give realistic estimates and hold to them — and we tell you openly when something takes longer than expected.

Track Record

Milestones & Recognition

14

Years in Chiang Mai

800+

Commissions Completed

3

Core Services Offered

23+

Countries Represented

Chiang Mai Artisan Guild

Member since 2013. Recognised for sustained practice in traditional craft disciplines with modern technical standards.

Horological Society of Thailand

Registered member. Participating in national dialogue on horological standards, education, and preservation.

Nimmanhaemin Business Circle

Listed among recommended specialist services on the Nimmanhaemin corridor since 2015, based on peer and client referrals.

Take the Next Step

Discuss Your Watch With Us

We are glad to hear from owners of antique timepieces — whether you have a clear sense of what is needed, or simply want an honest assessment of where things stand. There is no obligation attached to getting in touch.

Send an Enquiry