Our Story
How Mainspell came to be
Mainspell started as a one-bench operation in a rented space near Bang Lamung market — a watchmaker with a set of tools, a few reference books, and a belief that most watches that stop working are not beyond recovery.
The name refers to the mainspring: the coiled ribbon inside a mechanical movement that stores and releases energy. Everything in a watch depends on it working correctly. We thought it was an honest description of what we do — locate the source of the problem, address it carefully, and let the watch run as it should.
Over the years, the workshop has grown quietly, mostly through word of mouth among people who have a watch they care about and want handled by someone who will take it seriously. We have worked on daily-worn automatics, pieces passed down through families, and watches that had not run in decades. Each one gets the same level of attention.
Mission & Values
What we are trying to do
Document everything
Every watch that comes in is photographed and noted before anything is touched. You know what condition your piece was in at the start, and what was done.
Keep the owner in the conversation
We do not make decisions about what to do to a watch without first explaining the options and asking. This matters most on older pieces, where a well-meaning intervention can reduce rather than add value.
Work within scope
If a watch needs something outside what we can responsibly offer, we say so. Referring someone to the right person for a job is more useful than taking it on and falling short.
Pace the work properly
We take a limited number of pieces at any one time. Rushing timing observations or reassembly produces poor results — and those results tend to come back.
The People
Who works on your watch
Krit Pattanakit
Lead Watchmaker
Fifteen years working on mechanical movements, with particular experience in older Swiss and Japanese calibres. Handles all movement service and inspection work.
Nanthida Wimonrat
Case & Dial Specialist
Focuses on surface work — case refinishing, crystal replacement, and dial assessment. Careful to distinguish between wear that should be preserved and damage that warrants attention.
Anuwat Thongdee
Parts Research & Sourcing
Handles parts identification and sourcing for heritage refurbishments, with contacts across Thailand, Hong Kong, and Germany. Patient approach to finding period-correct components.
How We Work
Standards we hold ourselves to
These are not policies written for a website. They are the things we care about enough to follow even when it would be quicker not to.
Photographic record on intake
Every piece is photographed before any work begins. Condition at arrival is noted in writing and shared with you.
Calibre-matched lubricants
We use current-standard watchmaking lubricants, selected according to the type of movement and each specific friction point. No generic oils.
Multi-day timing observation
After servicing, watches are observed on a timing machine across multiple positions over several days — not just a single reading before dispatch.
Secure storage while in our care
The workshop is locked outside working hours. Watches awaiting service or collection are kept in a dedicated secure cabinet, not left on an open bench.
Written quote before any work
The final figure is agreed in writing before we begin. If something unexpected is found partway through, we stop, explain, and ask how you want to proceed.
Original parts returned to you
Any components replaced during a service are bagged and returned with the watch. You can see what was changed and judge for yourself.
Our Expertise
What we know, and how we keep knowing it
Mechanical watchmaking is a practical discipline. You learn most of it by taking movements apart and putting them back together, tracking what went wrong, and developing an eye for the difference between parts that are simply old and parts that are genuinely worn out.
Mainspell's lead watchmaker trained through a combination of formal study and apprenticeship, working under experienced repairers in Bangkok before setting up in Chonburi. The methods used are grounded in established watchmaking practice rather than improvised shortcuts.
We continue to refer to current literature and technical resources, and maintain contact with a network of repairers and suppliers across the region. When a calibre presents something unfamiliar, we consult rather than guess.
The watches that come to us range from daily-worn modern automatics to pieces several decades old that have not run in years. Each type of work calls for a different level of care and a different set of decisions.
For a modern automatic that simply needs its regular service interval attended to, the work is relatively straightforward: disassemble, clean, lubricate, reassemble, time. For an older watch with original lacquer on the dial or a calibre for which parts are no longer made, the approach has to be more considered.
We are based in Bang Lamung, on Chonburi's eastern coast. The location is practical for clients across the eastern seaboard — Pattaya, Si Racha, Rayong — and we also accept watches sent by courier from elsewhere in Thailand.
Ready to bring in your watch?
Get in touch with a short description of the piece and what you would like looked at. We will respond within one working day with clear next steps.
Send an Enquiry