Est. 2012 · Chiang Mai
A studio built around patience and honest work
Nathi Studio has been repairing and restoring watches in Chiang Mai for over twelve years — one piece at a time, without shortcuts.
Back to HomeOur Story
From a single bench in Nimman to a trusted local studio
Nathi Studio opened on Nimmanhaemin Road in 2012. The space was small — a single workbench, a loupe, and a set of tools carried from Bangkok after several years working alongside established watchmakers. The intention was simple: to offer Chiang Mai residents somewhere to bring a watch that had sentimental value, without it disappearing into a repair chain where no one knew its history.
Over the following years, word spread through the neighbourhood. People brought dress watches with worn crowns, diving watches with failing seals, family heirlooms that had not run for a decade. Each one was assessed individually and each owner was told, frankly, what could be done and what it would cost.
The studio grew because of that directness. Not from advertising or promises of fast turnarounds, but from customers who found the approach refreshing and came back when the next watch needed attention.
What guides our work
If a repair is not worth the cost, we say so. If a fault is beyond our scope, we refer you to someone better placed.
We do not operate a queue system that treats every piece the same. Each watch receives focused attention during its time at the bench.
For restoration work, we pause at agreed intervals and discuss findings. Nothing proceeds without your understanding and agreement.
We do not offer add-ons or create urgency. A watch brought in for regulation will be regulated and returned — nothing more unless you ask.
The People
The hands behind the work
Nathi Thongsuk
FOUNDER · HEAD WATCHMAKER
Trained in Bangkok and Chiang Mai over fifteen years. Specialises in mechanical movement regulation and vintage piece assessment.
Supawan Rattana
WATCHMAKER · WATER RESISTANCE
Joined the studio in 2017. Focuses on pressure testing, gasket replacement, and quartz movement servicing.
Kanya Pimchan
CLIENT LIAISON
Manages intake, assessment notes, and client communication. Ensures every piece is logged and its owner kept informed.
Our Standards
How we hold ourselves to account
Accuracy Testing
Timekeeping is measured across multiple positions using calibrated equipment. Results are recorded and shared with you before and after any adjustment.
Pressure Testing Protocol
Every water resistance service uses a calibrated pressure chamber. We test to the watch's rated depth and document the result.
Documented Intake
Every watch entering the studio is logged with a condition note and photographs. You receive a copy of the intake record.
Staged Approval
Restoration work is paused between stages. We do not proceed to the next step without explaining the findings and receiving your approval.
Parts Transparency
Replaced components — gaskets, worn parts — are shown to the client on collection. You can see what changed and why.
Secure Storage
Watches not actively on the bench are stored in a locked cabinet. The studio is secured outside working hours with a monitored system.
Expertise
Watch repair in Chiang Mai — built on practical knowledge
Nathi Studio covers mechanical and quartz movement work, water resistance testing, and the kind of exterior attention that makes an older watch presentable again without altering its character. The studio on Nimmanhaemin Road has been part of Chiang Mai's Nimman neighbourhood long enough to understand what local owners value: plain communication, fair pricing, and no surprises when the watch is collected.
Mechanical watches — those driven by a wound mainspring rather than a battery — need periodic regulation to maintain accurate timekeeping. Over time, lubricants age and moving parts wear slightly. A careful assessment and adjustment, with results measured across positions and temperatures, brings most pieces back within a comfortable daily tolerance.
Water resistance is a property that degrades with time, regardless of how often a watch is worn or submerged. Gaskets dry and shrink; crowns wear at their threading. A pressure test confirms whether seals are holding. For watches used near water during Chiang Mai's warmer months or on travel, this check has practical value.
Complete restoration suits watches that have not been serviced in many years, or pieces that carry sentimental importance and deserve thorough attention. The process combines movement work, case care, and a final water resistance check — carried out at a deliberate pace and with your involvement at each stage.
Ready to bring in a watch?
Drop us a message or visit the studio on Nimmanhaemin Road. We are happy to look at your piece and give you an honest assessment — no charge for that initial conversation.
Send an Enquiry