Our Story
A workshop built on patience, not pace
Lanna Tick has been part of Chiang Mai's Mun Muang Road since 2011. We do careful work with mechanical watches and take the time to do it properly.
Back to HomeHow Lanna Tick came to be
Lanna Tick opened in 2011 in a narrow shophouse on Mun Muang Road, in the old city district of Si Phum. The founder, Khun Somsak Thanakit, had spent the previous decade learning mechanical watch repair in Bangkok before deciding to bring that skill north, to the city where he had grown up.
The name draws on two things: the Lanna Kingdom, whose legacy still shapes the culture and architecture of Chiang Mai, and the simple tick of a well-serviced movement. Both feel right for a workshop that values craft passed down over time.
Over the years the workshop has grown slowly and intentionally. We have not expanded into quick-turnaround work or battery changes. We remain focused on mechanical and vintage pieces — watches that benefit from careful hands and steady attention.
What we stand for
Every watch that comes through our door carries something beyond its mechanism — a family connection, a personal milestone, or simply years of daily use. We treat each piece with that in mind.
Our approach is to be honest about what we find, transparent about what we can achieve, and unhurried in how we work. We would rather take two extra weeks and do something well than rush a job that does not deserve it.
- Honesty about what a piece needs and what it does not
- Written notes shared at every stage of service
- No work done without your explicit agreement
- Respect for the original character of each watch
- Calm, clear communication throughout
Who carries out the work
A small team. Each person has spent years learning their role and takes responsibility for the work they do.
Somsak Thanakit
Founder & Master Horologist
Trained in Bangkok over ten years before returning to Chiang Mai. Specialises in antique pocket watch movements and full heritage servicing.
Nattaya Prasong
Watch Technician
Joined the workshop in 2016. Handles strap fitting, case work, and assists on full service jobs. Known for precise and tidy finishing.
Wichai Charoenwong
Client Liaison
Manages enquiries, written service summaries, and handovers. Helps ensure that clients always know where their watch is and what is happening with it.
How we approach quality
Condition assessment first
Every watch receives a written condition assessment before any work begins. You receive a copy and confirm what you would like done.
Documented service records
Each service produces a written record of what was done, what parts were handled, and what the movement looked like before and after.
Secure handling and storage
Watches are kept in a secure, enclosed workshop during service. We do not leave pieces unattended and can photograph items on intake if requested.
Minimal intervention approach
We do not replace what does not need replacing. Our goal is to restore function and stability, not to make a watch look newer than it is.
Clear client communication
We contact you if anything unexpected is found during work. Nothing additional is done without your agreement, and estimates are confirmed before proceeding.
Post-service check period
After a full service, the watch runs for a monitored period in the workshop before we return it. This helps catch anything that needs adjustment before it leaves us.
Watch repair in Chiang Mai — a craft that takes time
Mechanical watch repair is not a fast trade. A pocket watch from the early twentieth century can contain over a hundred individual components, each of which needs to be cleaned, assessed, and correctly reassembled. That kind of work cannot be done well under pressure.
Lanna Tick occupies a place in Chiang Mai's old city that feels appropriate to this pace. The surrounding neighbourhood of Si Phum, within the old city walls, has long been home to workshops and small traders who take their craft seriously. We are part of that continuity in our own modest way.
Chiang Mai draws a number of visitors and residents who carry watches with histories — pocket watches from grandparents, wristwatches picked up in other countries, pieces bought decades ago and worn until something needs attention. We see a wide variety of makes and ages.
What we offer is not speed or volume. We offer steady attention, plain language, and a genuine interest in seeing a piece return to reliable use. If that matches what you are looking for, we would be glad to hear from you.
Ready to discuss your watch?
Send us a message or come by the workshop. We are on Mun Muang Road in Si Phum and are happy to have a look at what you have brought.
Get in Touch