Our story
Steady hands, quiet workshop.
Bua Horology was opened on a straightforward conviction: that watches — whether worn every day or kept as family objects — deserve considered attention and honest reporting from the people who open them.
Back to homeHow the workshop came to be
Bua Horology began as a single bench in a Sukhumvit shophouse, opened by Thanakorn Siriphan after several years spent working alongside older watchmakers in Chiang Mai and later in a small atelier in Zürich. The name — Bua, the Thai word for lotus — was chosen for the quality the flower suggests: something that opens slowly, without pressure, arriving at its final form in its own time.
In the early years the focus was almost entirely on antique pocket watches, which suited the workshop's pace and disposition. Over time, modern mechanical and quartz servicing was added in response to the watches that Bangkok residents were actually bringing in — pieces worn daily, picked up as gifts, or inherited without any accompanying history.
The practice remains small by deliberate choice. Fewer watches at any one time means more careful handling of each one. It also means that Thanakorn can speak directly with every owner who visits, rather than managing enquiries at a remove.
What guides the work
Three principles shape every service appointment at Bua Horology. First, nothing is done without the owner's knowledge: a written assessment is prepared before any work begins, and any finding that changes the scope is communicated before proceeding. Second, original character is respected: particularly for older pieces, the aim is to restore function while leaving the watch's accumulated history undisturbed where that is what the owner wants.
Third, the reporting is honest. If a watch cannot be economically repaired, or if it would be better served by a manufacturer's authorised centre, that is what we say. The aim is a useful conversation, not a transaction.
The people at the bench
A small team, which is by choice rather than circumstance.
Thanakorn Siriphan
Watchmaker & Founder
Trained in Chiang Mai and Zürich, Thanakorn has been servicing mechanical and antique pieces for over fourteen years. He handles all assessment and restoration work personally.
Nattaya Wongprasert
Workshop Coordinator
Nattaya manages appointments, written communications, and the documentation that accompanies each watch through its service visit and back to its owner.
Anucha Pattanachai
Quartz Technician
Anucha handles quartz servicing and battery work with attention to the small details — contact cleaning, gasket condition, and functional checks — that determine whether a piece keeps time well.
Standards that govern the work
Each service appointment at Bua Horology follows a structured approach developed from formal training and many years of practical experience.
Written assessment protocol
Every watch receives a written assessment before work begins. This records the condition found, the proposed scope, and the cost. It is shared with the owner for agreement before the bench work starts.
Calibrated lubricants
Lubrication is applied using watch-grade oils and greases appropriate to each movement type and contact point. Over-lubrication is as carefully avoided as under-lubrication.
Timing regulation
Mechanical watches are regulated across multiple positions using a timing machine before reassembly. Results are recorded in the service document that accompanies the watch.
Water resistance testing
Where the case design allows, pressure testing is carried out after reassembly. Gasket condition is recorded and replacement noted in writing where it affects the outcome.
Careful storage between sessions
Watches not actively on the bench are stored in individual, padded compartments. Movement parts removed during service are kept together and labelled by piece.
Owner data handled quietly
Contact details and service records are kept in a secure system and used only for the purposes of the work in hand. They are not shared with third parties or used for marketing.
What watch repair in Bangkok actually involves
Bangkok's climate places particular demands on watches. Humidity accelerates corrosion inside cases that are no longer sealed effectively; temperature fluctuations affect the viscosity of movement lubricants over time. Quartz watches that have sat in a drawer for a year may need more than a fresh cell — battery leakage can damage contacts and the circuit board if it is not caught and addressed promptly.
For mechanical watches, Bangkok's conditions mean that servicing intervals may be shorter than the manufacturer's general guidance, particularly for pieces worn actively in a tropical climate. A movement cleaned and lubricated on the correct schedule performs more consistently and places less wear on its component parts over time.
Antique pocket watches present their own considerations. Many were made for a dry European climate and with materials that have now become fragile. Sourcing replacement mainsprings, balance staffs, or jewels for early twentieth-century movements requires access to parts networks and a willingness to wait for the right component rather than fitting a near-enough substitute.
Bua Horology approaches these questions as a workshop with relevant experience in each area, not as a quick-turnaround repair counter. The work takes as long as it takes, and the owner is kept informed throughout.
Bring your watch for an assessment
The first step is always a written note of what we find. No commitment to further work is required at that stage.
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