Our Story
A workshop built on patience and plain speaking
Ratana was established in Bangkok's Silom district by watchmakers who felt the trade had drifted toward volume and away from care. We wanted something quieter.
← Back to HomeAbout Ratana
Where the name comes from
Ratana is a Thai word meaning jewel or gem — chosen not for polish, but for the idea of something small and precisely made that holds quiet value. It felt right for a workshop that concerns itself with movements no larger than a coin, where a single worn pivot can send a watch decades off course.
The workshop opened on Convent Road in 2016, in a narrow room shared with a drawer full of spare mainsprings and a lot of patience. The founders had both trained in mechanical watchmaking — one in Bangkok, one in Switzerland — and found they agreed on what a good repair shop should feel like: somewhere that explains things, doesn't rush, and sends watches back in better shape than it promised.
We've grown modestly since then, adding a second bench and a dedicated space for collector's work. The ethos remains the same. Every watch that comes in is assessed and documented before any work begins, and every decision is made in conversation with the owner.
Bangkok has a significant number of people who care seriously about mechanical watches — collectors, daily wearers, people who inherit a piece and want to understand it better. Ratana exists to serve that community, without pressure and without shortcuts.
Founded
2016
Silom, Bangkok
Approach
Assess before acting
Nothing is done without your knowledge and agreement.
Services
Three tiers
Inspection, full mechanical service, and collector's restoration.
The People
Who you'll work with
Parinya Kasem
Head Watchmaker
Trained in mechanical watchmaking in Bangkok and Geneva. Parinya leads assessments and all mechanical service work, with particular interest in complex vintage movements.
Natthida Wongsa
Restoration Specialist
Natthida focuses on collector's restoration — case finishing, dial assessment, and coordinating specialist parts. She keeps detailed records for every piece that passes through her bench.
Aran Thirawat
Client Liaison
Aran manages initial enquiries, communicates service progress, and prepares the written reports that accompany every completed watch. He handles all correspondence in Thai and English.
How We Work
Standards we hold ourselves to
Pre-work documentation
Before any service begins, we produce a written condition report. This records the watch's state on arrival and forms the basis for all decisions going forward.
Magnification and testing
We assess every movement under magnification and use timing machines to measure rate accuracy before and after service — across multiple positions where relevant.
Appropriate lubricants
We use current-grade watch oils and greases, stored correctly and applied in the amounts the movement requires — not more. Lubrication is logged by oil type and date.
Parts sourcing transparency
Any replacement parts are discussed with you before ordering. We explain the source, the reason for replacement, and the cost, so you can decide whether to proceed.
Secure handling
Watches are logged on arrival and stored in a locked cabinet when not on the bench. We carry insurance for watches in our care, and we treat every piece as we would our own.
Service record on completion
Every watch is returned with a written service record: what was done, what parts were used, and the timing results post-service. This travels with the watch as part of its history.
Mechanical watch care in Bangkok
Bangkok has a steady community of people who live with mechanical watches — collectors tracking down specific references, daily wearers who want a piece to run dependably, and people who inherit a watch and simply want to understand whether it needs attention. Ratana sits within that community, accessible on Convent Road in Silom and reachable by BTS.
Mechanical watches require periodic service regardless of how well they appear to run. The oils inside a movement degrade over time, reducing lubrication to pivot surfaces that rotate thousands of times per hour. A watch that keeps reasonable time can still have worn components that, left unaddressed, cause more significant damage later. A straightforward service inspection costs less than putting it off.
Ratana's three service tiers are designed to match the watch's actual condition and your intentions for it. We don't apply the same approach to a watch headed for the gym and a 1960s movement that hasn't been opened in forty years. The assessment determines the path, and that assessment is always shared with you first.
Curious about a watch in your care?
Reach out with a few details about the piece. We'll come back to you with straightforward thoughts on the appropriate next step.
Get in Touch