Luxury Watch Repair

[Thomas J]

I have a Tag Heuer that is not working.  Everybody wants to send it to Bangkok and has no idea of the cost to repair.  That puts me as a hostage to both the shipping and unknown repair costs.  Does anyone know of a watch repair person in Pattaya that does good work reasonably on higher end watches.  I was at Central yesterday and the watch repair person wanted $880 Baht just to change a battery and $6,500 baht to send the watch to Bangkok.  The watch does not work at all. Thebattery in the watch is fine so the problem as to be something else.  Possibly the chip?  There was a person some years ago that was recommended that was on the second floor of the Royal Garden Shopping Plaza.  He is no longer there.  Does anyone know if he is still in business or perhaps someone else they have had a good experience with. 

[wgdanson]

There is a watch guy just near Tukom going towards Thappraya, same side. He has fixed my Rado no problem.

[puukao]

I have a brain, so I know I can't name anyone.  But I went to a place somewhere and it was pretty horrible.  i actually went to like four places somewhere in this universe and they all gave me zero confidence.  i had a similar problem, more complex than your average watch.  i would highly recommend to wait until you explore another part of this galaxy and go where you are 100% sure it's worth spending any money.  

 

 

[Stocky]

Prawit Wongsuwan is your man for luxury watches.

[Thomas J]

30 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

There is a watch guy just near Tukom going towards Thappraya, same side. He has fixed my Rado no problem.

Do you happen to know the name of the watch repair place or cross streets.  I would have to get a Grab taxi to take me and they will want to know where they are taking me before quoting me a price for the ride and picking me up. 

 

[sammieuk1]

16 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

Do you happen to know the name of the watch repair place or cross streets.  I would have to get a Grab taxi to take me and they will want to know where they are taking me before quoting me a price for the ride and picking me up. 

 

Sounds more like you need a Timex repair! if not you could try and Tag a deceased friend seams to work for some????

[wgdanson]

21 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

Do you happen to know the name of the watch repair place or cross streets.  I would have to get a Grab taxi to take me and they will want to know where they are taking me before quoting me a price for the ride and picking me up. 

 

Go to Tukom, facing it. Turn to your right and 50 metres on the same side.

[Kenny202]

You really have two choices with a quartz watch. Very rarely they can repair them. If you send it back to Tag or their agents they will simply replace the movement and big $$$. If you can find a decent local bloke he may be able to order you a copy replacement Japanese movement for a teenth of the cost of genuine. Ive collected high end watches for years. Breitlings Tags Omega etc and in my experience they just arent that good or reliable. Only have a few left now...one of them being a high end Tissot thats never been much chop from new. Loses a few minutes a week. Stops intermittently. No one can repair it. I had a ceramic rado where the ceramic came off the band, Rado disowned it. An Omega where the crown broke. If you want a good reliable watch get a Seiko Citizen or Casio. If you like high end brandname...buy a grade AAA copy with a Japanese movement. Will be more accurate and reliable than a $3000 original

[yogi100]

4 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

You really have two choices with a quartz watch. Very rarely they can repair them. If you send it back to Tag or their agents they will simply replace the movement and big $$$. If you can find a decent local bloke he may be able to order you a copy replacement Japanese movement for a teenth of the cost of genuine. Ive collected high end watches for years. Breitlings Tags Omega etc and in my experience they just arent that good or reliable. Only have a few left now...one of them being a high end Tissot thats never been much chop from new. Loses a few minutes a week. Stops intermittently. No one can repair it. I had a ceramic rado where the ceramic came off the band, Rado disowned it. An Omega where the crown broke. If you want a good reliable watch get a Seiko Citizen or Casio. If you like high end brandname...buy a grade AAA copy with a Japanese movement. Will be more accurate and reliable than a $3000 original

 

Too true, they often last for decades. We often hear of people having problems with posers' watches where you are simply paying for the name.

 

There's a Mr Wong in the Pattaya Smelly Market opposite the temple in South Pattaya Rd who has a good reputation as a watchsmith. He might be able to sort it out. Most local ex pats will point you in his direction.

 

I have a 40 quid (at the time of purchase) Rotary watch that had a busted link on the strap. I got quoted 30 quid in London. Mr Wong repaired it for 100 baht although that was around 10 years back. The timepiece is around 40 years old, still keeps perfect time and I wear it most days.

 

Folk think it's clever flashing Rolex and Omega watches about but they are no better than a Timex and people always think they're copies any way. I for one don't see the point of them.

[thaiguzzi]

I did'nt think high end, or luxury, quartz, and battery, could be put in the same sentence.

Edited January 24, 2019 by thaiguzzi

[HAKAPALITA]

1 hour ago, wgdanson said:

There is a watch guy just near Tukom going towards Thappraya, same side. He has fixed my Rado no problem.

Its his watch thats wrong, not his Radio.

[HAKAPALITA]

If you have an expensive Watch you send it back to Main Dealer. Nop wont have the specialised batteries for hi end stuf. Its like sending a Lambo to Cockpit. Yes it will cost,and so it should.

[Henryford]

Be careful where you take it. My Longines stopped working once. I thought it was just the battery so took it to a watch shop for a replacement. The guy there told me that the battery was OK but a part was broken which needed replacement, cost 4000 baht. I was suspicious so took it to another shop for a second opinion. He told me that the part had been deliberately broken to scam me and it probably was just a worn out battery in the first place. Now i am very careful where i go for a new battery.

[banglay]

I took my Tag for repair at Royal garden Pattaya ..second floor   there's a jewellery shop with a watch repair guy at the front of the shop ...... As for battery replacement I go to a local guy at the market in Bang Saray he replaces the battery while I wait ...usually cost about 150b  all in ....( never had a problem with compromised seal) he's also repaired the stainless steel wrist strap too when all the dealers said I needed a new strap and they want stupid money to do so. 

[Thomas J]

16 minutes ago, banglay said:

I took my Tag for repair at Royal garden Pattaya ..second floor   there's a jewellery shop with a watch repair guy at the front of the shop ...... As for battery replacement I go to a local guy at the market in Bang Saray he replaces the battery while I wait ...usually cost about 150b  all in ....( never had a problem with compromised seal) he's also repaired the stainless steel wrist strap too when all the dealers said I needed a new strap and they want stupid money to do so. 

I saw a number of people in posts that are some years old talk about a watch repair person on the second floor of the Royal Garden.  He is no longer there.  I don't know if he has moved and is still in business or if he has retired.  

[giddyup]

3 hours ago, HAKAPALITA said:

If you have an expensive Watch you send it back to Main Dealer. Nop wont have the specialised batteries for hi end stuf. Its like sending a Lambo to Cockpit. Yes it will cost,and so it should.

The batteries in a Tag would be available on Ebay and more than likely common enough to buy here. AFAIK watch manufacturers don't use specialised batteries in quartz watches.

[HAKAPALITA]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

The batteries in a Tag would be available on Ebay and more than likely common enough to buy here. AFAIK watch manufacturers don't use specialised batteries in quartz watches.

Rubbish, there are many types for different models. Details available via Google. 

[Thomas J]

49 minutes ago, HAKAPALITA said:

Rubbish, there are many types for different models. Details available via Google. 

The batteries don't seem to be a problem.  I found one person in the Big C shopping area who would install a battery for $200 baht.  He did a Movado for me some months ago.  It is the repairs that seem to be an issue.  

[Pilotman]

There is a chap on the end of Soi Buakhow, where it meets Pattaya Central Road. He seems to deal with upper end watches as well as all kinds of watch repairs. He has only changed a battery and glass for me, but he may be worth a look   

[giddyup]

1 hour ago, HAKAPALITA said:

Rubbish, there are many types for different models. Details available via Google. 

I realise there are many different watch batteries in both size and power, I have been changing my own watch batteries for years, but you suggested that hi end watches have "specialised" batteries. Name me one brand of quartz watch whose battery is made for that watch alone.

Edited January 25, 2019 by giddyup

[bbko]

35 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

There is a chap on the end of Soi Buakhow, where it meets Pattaya Central Road. He seems to deal with upper end watches as well as all kinds of watch repairs. He has only changed a battery and glass for me, but he may be worth a look   

I was just going to suggest the same place, the shop is called "Mr Jack: and he get lots of positive reviews from customers here on TV and other sites. Corner of Soi Buakow and Pattaya Klang.

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/884593-good-repair-shop-for-watches/

 

 

[HAKAPALITA]

2 hours ago, giddyup said:

I realise there are many different watch batteries in both size and power, I have been changing my own watch batteries for years, but you suggested that hi end watches have "specialised" batteries. Name me one brand of quartz watch whose battery is made for that watch alone.

Rolex Oyster Daydate Quartz, i have one.

[giddyup]

16 minutes ago, HAKAPALITA said:

Rolex Oyster Daydate Quartz, i have one.

As the watch the OP is looking to have serviced is a Tag that's kind of irrelevant. Unless of course you are saying that Tags have "specialised" batteries? Why anyone would buy a quartz watch that needs a Rolex specialist to change the battery is beyond me.

[wgdanson]

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

There is a chap on the end of Soi Buakhow, where it meets Pattaya Central Road. He seems to deal with upper end watches as well as all kinds of watch repairs. He has only changed a battery and glass for me, but he may be worth a look   

That's the bloke I meant earlier.

[wgdanson]

31 minutes ago, HAKAPALITA said:

Rolex Oyster Daydate Quartz, i have one.

Poser.   LOL

[wgdanson]

2 hours ago, bbko said:

I was just going to suggest the same place, the shop is called "Mr Jack: and he get lots of positive reviews from customers here on TV and other sites. Corner of Soi Buakow and Pattaya Klang.

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/884593-good-repair-shop-for-watches/

 

 

Central not Klang

[wgdanson]

11 minutes ago, giddyup said:

As the watch the OP is looking to have serviced is a Tag that's kind of irrelevant. Unless of course you are saying that Tags have "specialised" batteries? Why anyone would buy a quartz watch that needs a Rolex specialist to change the battery is beyond me.

Because they can!

[wgdanson]

4 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Central not Klang

Maybe it is another one Mr Pilotman. 50 metres from Tukom. Pattaya TAI, not Central or Klang. Sorry for my mistake.

Edited January 25, 2019 by wgdanson

[HAKAPALITA]

42 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Poser.   LOL

 Certainly am , and Hardened to the Its a Copy Snowflakes.

[bbko]

13 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Central not Klang

555, I was using Thai words and not the English translation. 

Pattaya Klang is Pattaya Central

FWIW

Pattaya Tai is South Road

Pattaya Nua is North Road

Sai Som is 3rd Road

Sai Song is 2nd Road.

Edited January 26, 2019 by bbko