The Workshop
A Small Workshop With a Long View
Mainspring has been a quiet address for watch repair in Chiang Mai since 2009. Not a chain, not a franchise — a single bench, a considered approach.
Back to HomeHow Mainspring Came to Be
Mainspring opened in 2009 on a short lease and a modest set of tools. The owner, Khun Prayut, had spent twelve years learning the trade in Bangkok — first at a large repair counter, then at a smaller independent shop where the work was slower and more deliberate. When he moved north to Chiang Mai, he wanted to carry that slower pace with him.
The name comes from the coiled spring at the heart of a mechanical watch — the part that stores energy and releases it steadily. It felt like an honest description of what the workshop tries to do: hold something carefully and let it out at the right pace.
Over the years the clientele has grown through word of mouth. Expatriates living in Nimman, Thai families with inherited pieces, and visitors passing through the city who notice the sign in the window. The work has stayed the same throughout: patient, documented, and done without shortcuts.
Today the workshop handles around 80–100 pieces a year. That limit is deliberate. It allows each watch to receive the attention its owner hopes for, rather than being pushed through a queue.
Mission
To return timepieces to working order with the care and transparency their owners deserve — no more, no less. Every piece leaves with an honest record of what was done.
Values
- Transparency — The owner knows exactly what work was done and why.
- Restraint — Only what is needed. No upselling, no unnecessary procedures.
- Patience — The bench runs at the pace the work demands, not a commercial schedule.
- Respect for history — Patina and originality are preserved wherever reasonable.
16
Years Open
1,400+
Pieces Serviced
1
Bench, One Focus
Who You're Leaving Your Watch With
Prayut Janthana
Workshop Principal
Trained in Bangkok over twelve years before establishing Mainspring. Handles all movement servicing and restoration assessments personally.
Nattaya Worarit
Case & Dial Specialist
Focuses on exterior restoration — case finishing, crystal fitting, and dial assessment. Works closely with Khun Prayut on the Collector's program.
Aroon Phongphan
Client Liaison & Parts Sourcing
Manages all client communication and coordinates parts sourcing through supplier networks in Switzerland, Japan, and Thailand.
How the Bench Operates
Precision Testing
Every movement is measured on a timegrapher before and after service. Results are recorded and shared with the owner as part of the written summary.
Approved Lubricants
Only manufacturer-approved watch lubricants are used, applied under magnification with the correct grade for each component. No general-purpose oils.
Resistance Checking
Watches with water resistance ratings are checked with a pressure tester after resealing. Results and any limitations are noted clearly.
Photo Documentation
Restoration pieces are photographed at each stage — before disassembly, during, and after completion. Images are kept on file and available on request.
Secure Custody
All pieces left for service are held in a locked cabinet when not on the bench. Intake and return are documented with a signed receipt for each transaction.
Post-Service Check
Completed watches are worn on a movement simulator for 24 hours before collection to confirm steady running under regular conditions.
Watch Repair in Chiang Mai — What That Actually Means
Chiang Mai has a number of places that replace watch batteries or change straps. Mainspring is not that kind of establishment. The work here is mechanical: disassembly, cleaning in an ultrasonic bath, drying, lubrication under a microscope, reassembly, and timing verification. It is slow work by design.
For vintage and antique timepieces, this matters. A movement that has not been serviced in twenty years has degraded lubricants that can cause wear if left in place. Cleaning them out and replacing them with fresh, correctly-graded oils extends the functional life of the watch considerably. This is not a cosmetic exercise.
The workshop is familiar with Swiss, Japanese, and German calibres across most of the twentieth century. Pocket watches, wristwatches, and dress pieces are all within scope. Complications — chronographs, date functions, alarms — are handled on a case-by-case basis depending on complexity and parts availability.
Mainspring is not affiliated with any watch brand or service network. This independence allows the work to be assessed on its own terms rather than within a manufacturer's service schedule. For collectors, that is often a meaningful distinction.
Bring the Watch In
An intake assessment is free and carries no obligation to proceed. Come in, leave the watch for a look, and we'll send you a short written note within a few days.
Contact the Workshop