A workshop built on patience and precision
Geartide began with a simple idea: that a watch deserves the same unhurried attention its maker gave it.
Back to HomeThe Geartide story
Geartide opened in Chiang Mai's Chang Klan district after years spent in watch servicing across Thailand. The name draws from two ideas that guide the work here: the steady motion of a gear train, turning with purpose and precision, and the unhurried rhythm of a tide, which cannot be rushed and arrives exactly when it should.
The workshop was built for owners who care about their timepieces — not just as functional objects, but as things with history. Whether a watch was worn every day for thirty years or passed down from someone who is no longer around, each piece that comes through the door is treated with that weight in mind.
We keep the operation deliberately small. There is no queue of hundreds of watches, no impersonal ticketing system, and no one handling your watch who doesn't understand its movement. What we offer is personal attention from someone who has spent years learning to read the language of mechanical and quartz timepieces — and who takes quiet satisfaction in returning a watch to steady, reliable function.
What drives the work
Care before speed
A watch restored too quickly is rarely restored well. We hold to timelines that give each piece the attention it needs.
Transparency first
Nothing is done without your knowledge. Condition notes, estimates, and updates are shared openly throughout every service.
Minimal intervention
We work to restore what is there, not to replace it unnecessarily. Original parts and finishes are preserved wherever the watch allows.
Your pace, not ours
You're welcome to ask questions, request updates, or simply leave the watch with us and wait for the call. No pressure either way.
Who you'll be working with
Nattapol Charoenwong
Lead Watchmaker
Fifteen years working with mechanical movements across Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Handles all teardown, overhaul, and reassembly work in the workshop.
Pornpan Limsakul
Finishing & Case Specialist
Trained in Lausanne, Pornpan oversees all case refinishing, crystal replacement, and exterior restoration. Her approach favours preservation over heavy polishing.
Arisa Thongsuk
Client Liaison
First point of contact for all enquiries. Arisa manages condition notes, client updates, and the workshop calendar with the same quiet attention the technical team brings to the bench.
How we approach the work
Every service follows the same set of internal standards — regardless of the watch's age, value, or complexity.
Written condition record
Every watch receives a written condition note before work begins. This covers what was found, what is proposed, and the cost involved — provided before any commitment is made.
Calibrated test equipment
All movements are timed on a regulated timing machine after service. Pressure tests use calibrated equipment to verify water resistance on appropriate models.
Careful handling & storage
Watches are stored in individual padded trays throughout the service process. Movement parts are kept in labelled trays during disassembly to preserve order and identity.
Part authenticity checks
Replacement components are sourced from reputable suppliers and verified before fitting. Non-original parts are disclosed in the condition note and only used with your agreement.
Secure premises
The workshop is alarmed and locked outside business hours. Access is limited to workshop staff only. Valuable pieces awaiting collection are stored in a locked cabinet.
Open client communication
If anything changes during the service — an unexpected finding, a delay in parts — you are contacted directly before work continues. Nothing proceeds without your awareness.
Watch repair and restoration in Chiang Mai
Geartide serves owners across Chiang Mai and the wider northern Thailand region who are looking for considered, unhurried care for their timepieces. The workshop handles a range of movements — from straightforward quartz calibres needing a cell and a seal check, through to older mechanical pieces that require a full teardown and reassembly by hand.
The craft of watch servicing draws on a body of knowledge that takes years to build. Understanding how a mainspring behaves after decades of use, knowing how to re-lubricate a pallet fork without disturbing the escapement geometry, reading the signs of moisture ingress in a movement that looks fine at a glance — these are skills that sit alongside technical training, and they inform every decision made at the bench.
For vintage and inherited watches, the restoration process begins with a calm, unhurried assessment. The dial, case, movement condition, and any signs of prior service or modification are all noted. This information shapes the approach taken and gives the owner a clear picture of what the watch needs and why. At Geartide, no restoration decision is made unilaterally — the owner is part of every meaningful choice.
Our workshop is located at 88 Chang Klan Road in Chang Khlan, Chiang Mai — a quiet part of the city that suits the pace of the work. Walk-in enquiries are welcome during business hours, and watches can also be left by prior arrangement outside those times. For owners outside Chiang Mai, postal arrangements can be discussed in advance.
Ready to bring a watch in?
There's no charge for the initial assessment. Get in touch and we'll arrange a time that works for you.
Contact the Workshop