Our Story
A Workshop Built Around What Your Watch Needs
Bezel Workshop was founded in Chiang Mai with one purpose: to give fine and collectible timepieces the attentive, unhurried care they deserve.
Back to HomeOur Background
How Bezel Workshop Came to Be
Bezel Workshop opened in Chiang Mai's Tha Phae district in 2013, growing out of a long-standing interest in mechanical horology and a sense that owners of fine watches in Thailand deserved a dedicated, trustworthy place to bring them. The city's blend of craft culture and international community made it a natural home.
The workshop's name reflects a core principle: just as a bezel frames and protects a dial, every service we offer frames the watch itself — drawing attention to its condition, supporting its function, and protecting what makes it valuable. The work is careful, considered, and never hurried.
Over the years we've built quiet relationships with owners of Swiss and Japanese mechanical watches, vintage collectors, and expatriates passing through Northern Thailand who trust us to handle pieces of personal and financial significance. We don't advertise outcomes we can't stand behind, and we don't begin work without a clear agreement.
Our Mission
What We're Here to Do
Our mission is straightforward: to provide watch owners with honest, skilled, and transparent service. We assess each piece carefully, communicate what we find in plain language, and carry out only the work that is genuinely needed.
We believe the lasting worth of a fine watch is tied directly to how it is treated over time. That means sourcing the right components rather than generic substitutes, approaching vintage patina with respect, and documenting every restoration so the owner has a complete record.
Our Core Values
- Honesty: We say what we find and quote what it costs, before any work begins.
- Restraint: We do what is needed and nothing more. Over-servicing is not in your watch's interest.
- Transparency: Every step is explained and documented in writing.
- Precision: Tools, techniques, and components are chosen for accuracy, not convenience.
The People
Behind the Bench
Kritsana Thongchai
Head Watchmaker
Trained in horology in Switzerland and Japan, Kritsana brings over eighteen years of hands-on experience with mechanical and automatic movements. He leads all technical assessments and restoration work.
Nattawan Preechar
Client Relations & Intake
Nattawan manages client communication, intake assessments, and ensures every owner understands the proposed work before it begins. Her background in fine arts informs her attention to detail and visual condition reporting.
Somchai Ratanaporn
Case & Finishing Specialist
Somchai handles case and bracelet work, crystal fitting, and sympathetic surface finishing. His careful approach to metal and finishing ensures that original character is respected throughout any restoration.
How We Work
Our Standards & Protocols
Magnified Assessment
Every movement is examined under professional magnification before any service begins. Condition notes are recorded in full.
Timing Measurement
Rate and amplitude are measured on a timing machine in multiple positions, giving an objective picture of movement performance before and after service.
Water Resistance Testing
Where applicable, seals are checked and water resistance is verified to the manufacturer's specification using dedicated pressure testing equipment.
Documented Handling
All watches in our care are photographed on intake and handled on padded surfaces. Restoration work is recorded with written service notes for each owner.
Original Components
We source manufacturer-original or correctly matched parts wherever possible. Generic substitutes are not used on fine or collectible movements without client agreement.
Secure Storage
Watches awaiting service or collection are held in secure, climate-appropriate storage within the workshop at all times.
Our Expertise
Mechanical Horology in Northern Thailand
Bezel Workshop operates as a dedicated horological atelier — meaning our focus is singular. We do not sell watches, offer battery changes, or handle fashion-brand accessories. Our work is with mechanical and automatic movements in watches that owners have chosen to preserve and maintain over the long term.
Chiang Mai's position as a hub for skilled craft and international residents has made it a fitting home for this kind of specialist service. We work with owners whose watches range from everyday Swiss automatics to significant vintage Swiss and Japanese pieces, estate watches, and collector references. Each presents different challenges and deserves individual consideration.
Our approach to restoration is shaped by the collector community's understanding that the wrong intervention can reduce a watch's value as much as neglect. Aggressive polishing, non-original parts, and undocumented work all leave marks. We aim to leave as little mark as possible beyond improved function and a thorough written record.
Owners visiting Chiang Mai from abroad are welcome to consult with us and leave their watches in our care with the knowledge that they will be stored safely, treated carefully, and returned — or shipped securely — at an agreed time.
Talk to Us
We'd Be Happy to Take a Look
If you have a watch that needs attention — or simply want to know what a service might involve — please get in touch. No pressure, just a straightforward conversation.
Request a Consultation