Where can I find a very competent watchmaker? Not a battery changer.

[Gobbler]

I need someone local who can provide proper service for vintage watches. 

 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

9 minutes ago, Gobbler said:

I need someone local who can provide proper service for vintage watches. 

 

 

Head West from Tukcom, Pattaya Tai. 

About 50 metres (less than 100m) same side is a little shop selling watches and clocks etc. 

 

Not sure of qualifications but reasonable prices. 

 

He's helped me out a few times. 

Give him a go. 

 

Edited October 7 by SAFETY FIRST

[carlyai]

26 minutes ago, Gobbler said:

I need someone local who can provide proper service for vintage watches. 

 

 

If you go down to Na Glua, near the fish market on the RHS there's a real watchmaker hiding in the store back.

He used to fix my Grandfather clock.

Not sure if he's still there, may have retired.

[Smokin Joe]

Mr. Jacks' on Soi Buakhow Just before it meets Central Pattaya Rd (Pattaya Klang) is more well known for sales but can do watch smith work. Downside is highest prices of the three different shops I have used in Pattaya.

 

The shop on South Pattaya Rd (Pattaya Tai) has the best prices of the places I've been to but also the least competent. Not terrible, but not great either. For simple repairs or battery changes he was ok.

 

The shop I would recommend is Bombs Watch Repair Shop in South Pattaya on Soi Khopai. Better prices and quicker than than Mr. Jacks. It is a one man shop and he is often not open during the hours stated on his facebook page. Late afternoon is usually a good time to go or just call first.

 

Bombs Watch Repair Shop

 

[Pattaya57]

I took my 1992 Raymond Weil to Jacks watches on soi Bukhao (just before central Pattaya road) for a full service as it had not worked for 10 years (flat battery). They did an excellent job at a good price and 5 years later it's still somehow ticking on the same battery 😀

 

Edited October 7 by Pattaya57

[a3tsw]

If Bangkok is not too far for you , these guys have a lot of experience servicing and repairing high end watches https://www.expert-watch.com . Branches in most Central Malls..

[Gobbler]

5 minutes ago, a3tsw said:

If Bangkok is not too far for you , these guys have a lot of experience servicing and repairing high end watches https://www.expert-watch.com . Branches in most Central Malls..

I try hard to avoid Bangkok. 

 

[Gobbler]

This watch is circa 1940's. It's a manual wind. It's been overwound. It desperately needs a service. 

 

 

[Gobbler]

I can't sell the Zenith if it isn't running. 

 

The Marvin below is running. 

 

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Head West from Tukcom, Pattaya Tai. 

About 50 metres (less than 100m) same side is a little shop selling watches and clocks etc. 

 

Not sure of qualifications but reasonable prices. 

 

He's helped me out a few times. 

Give him a go. 

 

Yes, been there and done it, a very good guy. And he can change batteries if needed.

[Upnotover]

1 hour ago, Smokin Joe said:

Mr. Jacks' on Soi Buakhow Just before it meets Central Pattaya Rd (Pattaya Klang) is more well known for sales but can do watch smith work. Downside is highest prices of the three different shops I have used in Pattaya.

+1 for this.  Did good work on my Tag Heuer some years ago.

[Gobbler]

[cjinchiangrai]

There was an old guy that did that sort of thing in the basement of Central Festival in Chon Buri city. He cleaned up my Omega Automatic. No idea if he is still there.

[Gobbler]

My friend sold and serviced watches here.  Is this the one everyone is recommending? It's 50m from Tukcom on the same side. 

 

[Gobbler]

It's called the Somboon Watch Shop. I found the owner on LINE. My watch guy in Bangkok wants 4500 for a service.  Let's see what Somboon quotes me. 

 

[Olmate]

3 minutes ago, Gobbler said:

It's called the Somboon Watch Shop. I found the owner on LINE. My watch guy in Bangkok wants 4500 for a service.  Let's see what Somboon quotes me. 

 

"My.watch guy"!! lol

[Smokin Joe]

2 hours ago, Gobbler said:

My friend sold and serviced watches here.  Is this the one everyone is recommending? It's 50m from Tukcom on the same side. 

 

 

That is the one I used a couple of times and would not recommend. 

[Gobbler]

6 hours ago, Smokin Joe said:

 

That is the one I used a couple of times and would not recommend. 

Why?

[Smokin Joe]

39 minutes ago, Gobbler said:

Why?

 

A couple of reasons. One, he broke a watch case of mine by when he removed the bezel. Not really a big deal since I asked him to do it to swap it for another. Unfortunately it wasn't a watch that the bezel was designed to be moved and replaced. It was a Chinese replica of a diving watch and not expensive so no great loss. I am swapping the parts into a new watch case.

 

The bigger reason was after that, when I took three watches to him for various work. After three weeks he had not touched a single one of them. He said he was so busy he just hadn't had the time. I retrieved my watches and then found Bombs Watch Shop where everything was fixed as requested and done quickly.

[kdrayong]

This one fixed my 75 yo watch in a perfect way. The price was okay, too.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/32ny8yzk8a6moXh98

[jacko45k]

20 hours ago, Gobbler said:

It's called the Somboon Watch Shop. I found the owner on LINE. My watch guy in Bangkok wants 4500 for a service.  Let's see what Somboon quotes me. 

 

Done properly it is quite a job, a complete strip down and cleaning and lubrication. Quite comprehensive and a lot of effort.  Servicing and repair by OEMs is very expensive, I have done it for my Tag, heaven knows what a Rolex would be!

[a3tsw]

8 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Done properly it is quite a job, a complete strip down and cleaning and lubrication. Quite comprehensive and a lot of effort.  Servicing and repair by OEMs is very expensive, I have done it for my Tag, heaven knows what a Rolex would be!

 

[Pattaya57]

On 10/7/2024 at 5:42 PM, Gobbler said:

I need someone local who can provide proper service for vintage watches. 

You were given a few good reccomendations for Mr Jscks on Soi Bukhao. Any reason you didn't try him?

[Espanol]

On 10/8/2024 at 2:51 AM, Gobbler said:

My friend sold and serviced watches here.  Is this the one everyone is recommending? It's 50m from Tukcom on the same side. 

 

 

 

I took my automatic watch in because the rotating bezel had become blocked. He was unable to unlock it, but the watch stopped working.
I was surprised at the speed with which he returned the watch to me when I went to pick it up, saying that he couldn't do anything about it, that he wouldn't charge me anything, and that I should go away.
I think he dropped it on the floor or hit it.
I consider it a place to change batteries and little else.

 

[Gobbler]

On 10/9/2024 at 6:29 AM, jacko45k said:

Done properly it is quite a job, a complete strip down and cleaning and lubrication. Quite comprehensive and a lot of effort.  Servicing and repair by OEMs is very expensive, I have done it for my Tag, heaven knows what a Rolex would be!

This watch is a manual wind movement with no complications. 

[Gobbler]

5 hours ago, Espanol said:

 

 

I took my automatic watch in because the rotating bezel had become blocked. He was unable to unlock it, but the watch stopped working.
I was surprised at the speed with which he returned the watch to me when I went to pick it up, saying that he couldn't do anything about it, that he wouldn't charge me anything, and that I should go away.
I think he dropped it on the floor or hit it.
I consider it a place to change batteries and little else.

 

That's the impression I'm getting. I asked him how much the service was. I send him a photo.  He won't tell me how much unless I bring it in.  I call bull<deleted>. 

[Gobbler]

On 10/9/2024 at 10:17 AM, Pattaya57 said:

You were given a few good reccomendations for Mr Jscks on Soi Bukhao. Any reason you didn't try him?

I move at a snail's pace.