What Clients Say
From the Owners
Who Left Their Watches
A selection of feedback from collectors, inheritors, and curious first-timers who brought a piece to the workshop.
Back to HomeReviews
Owners' Accounts
Kasem Phongphan
Bangkok · Collector
I sent a 1960s Longines 30L that had been sitting unworn for fifteen years. The condition report came back with a very clear description of what was going on inside — some dried oil, a slightly bent click spring, nothing dramatic. Theerapat explained the options in a way that made it easy to decide. The servicing was done in about three weeks and the watch has been running without complaint since.
June 2025 · Sympathetic Servicing
Anchalee Thitipan
Chiang Mai · Inherited piece
My grandfather's watch came to me with no history and I genuinely did not know whether to have it serviced or just keep it as an object. The assessment at Horophile gave me a proper picture of it for the first time — including what the movement actually is, which I had never known. I did not end up commissioning any further work at that point, but the report itself was worth every baht.
May 2025 · Condition Assessment
Wanchai Suphanit
Chiang Rai · Collector
I collect Seiko from the early 1970s and had been using a general repair shop in town that always seemed to over-polish the cases. Horophile was recommended and the difference is noticeable — the watch came back looking like itself, not like it had been cleaned up for a market stall. I will not go elsewhere for this kind of work now.
June 2025 · Sympathetic Servicing
Richard Lam
Hong Kong · Posted from abroad
I had a small Omega constellation that needed attention but could not find anyone in Hong Kong I trusted with the original dial. A friend suggested Horophile and I posted it over — the process was straightforward and the advice on packaging was helpful. The assessment report came back quickly and the eventual servicing was exactly what was agreed. The dial is intact and the watch keeps good time.
May 2025 · Sympathetic Servicing
Nopporn Wattanachai
Chiang Mai · First-time client
I found Horophile through a watchmaking forum and brought in a pocket watch that had come with a house I bought. I knew almost nothing about watches and said so — this was handled very patiently. The assessment explained what it was (a Cyma from around 1935) and what condition it was in, and I left feeling I actually understood what I had. Good experience from start to finish.
June 2025 · Condition Assessment
Siriporn Charoenwong
Bangkok · Restoration client
I commissioned a museum-grade restoration on a 1940s Longines that belonged to my father. The process took around five months in total, which I expected, and at every significant stage I was consulted and photographed updates were sent. The bound record that came back with the watch is a remarkable document. I feel like the piece has been properly honoured.
April 2025 · Museum-Grade Restoration
Case Studies
Three Pieces, Three Journeys
Case Study 01
A 1958 Longines Flagship — Inherited, Uncertain, Finally Known
The Situation
The owner had inherited the watch from an aunt and had no information about its service history. The dial showed some ageing and the crown felt loose. She did not know whether to have it serviced or leave it alone.
What Was Done
The condition assessment identified a worn crown tube and dried mainspring lubrication. Sympathetic Servicing was agreed — including crown tube replacement from new-old-stock. The original dial was left untouched.
The Outcome
The watch returned running well within specification, with a written record and a clear picture of what it is. The owner now wears it regularly and says it feels connected to the aunt in a way it did not before.
Case Study 02
A 1941 Swiss Dress Watch — Part Fabrication for an Unobtainable Component
The Situation
A Bangkok collector brought in a small FHF 59 movement with a broken balance staff — a component not commercially available for this calibre. He had been told by two workshops that nothing could be done.
What Was Done
A Museum-Grade Restoration was agreed. The balance staff was fabricated to original dimensions using period-appropriate steel. The fabrication and fitting process was documented in photographs shared with the owner at each stage.
The Outcome
The watch was returned running, with the fabricated part recorded in the restoration document. The collector described it as the most satisfying piece in a collection of over forty watches — precisely because he now knows its complete story.
Case Study 03
A 1970s Seiko 5 — Assessment Only, No Service Required
The Situation
A collector from Chiang Rai brought in a Seiko 5 acquired at a market. It was running, but he was uncertain whether a service was worthwhile given what he had paid for it.
What Was Done
The condition assessment found the movement in surprisingly good condition — lubricants still functional, no visible wear beyond normal for the age. The assessment note recommended monitoring rather than immediate servicing.
The Outcome
No service was carried out. The owner left with a written record and a clear suggestion of when a service might be appropriate. He appreciated the honest answer and has since returned with two other pieces for assessment.
Reach the Workshop
Contact Horophile
Phone
+66 84 927 6134Address
76 Chang Klan Road
Chiang Mai 50100
Hours
Tue–Sat: 10:00–18:00
By appointment
At a Glance
Numbers Worth Noting
16
Years in Chiang Mai
1,400+
Pieces completed
4.9
Average satisfaction
100%
Jobs documented
Heritage Craft Recognition
Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce · 2022
Collector Network Recommended
Thailand Collector Network · Listed since 2015
AHCI Associate Member
Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants
Your Turn
Bring Your Watch In
A condition assessment is a low-commitment starting point. Write or call to arrange a time.
Get in Touch