Customer Experiences
Watches Returned, and the Words That Followed
These are accounts from people who brought or sent a watch to Nakara Time. We share them as they were written — without embellishment.
Back to Home16
Years in operation
940+
Watches serviced or restored
4.9
Average satisfaction rating
97%
Owners who return for future work
From Our Customers
What People Have Said
Khun Somchai P.
Bangkok
I sent my grandfather's pocket watch from Bangkok by registered post, following the packing instructions Khun Prawit provided by email. The assessment came back within a few days — honest and detailed. The restoration took about ten weeks, which was longer than I'd hoped, but the result was better than I'd expected. The watch runs within a few seconds per day and the dial was conserved exactly as I'd asked.
May 2025
Lisa T.
Chiang Mai (originally from Germany)
My father's Omega had not run in twelve years. I was nervous about leaving it with anyone, but Khun Prawit's assessment explained everything clearly and didn't try to push me toward a more expensive option. The routine service brought it back to life. I'll bring my own daily-wear watch next time.
April 2025
Khun Wanchai N.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
I came in with a vintage Seiko that needed new hands. The conversation about whether to find original-style hands or use modern equivalents was exactly what I needed — I hadn't thought about it beforehand. We went with period-correct hands and the watch looks right. The service documentation was a thoughtful touch I didn't expect.
May 2025
Rajesh K.
Visiting from India
I was passing through Ayutthaya on holiday and had a watch that had been running slow for months. I didn't expect same-day attention but Khun Prawit looked at it, explained that the mainspring had weakened, and was honest that a proper service would take two to three weeks. We arranged for it to be sent back to me in Bangalore. Communication throughout was clear and the watch arrived well-packed and running correctly.
April 2025
Khun Pornpan J.
Nonthaburi
The work was good and the timing results showed clearly in the documentation. The watch had not run for seven years before I brought it in. My one comment is that the turnaround took a week longer than the initial estimate, though I was informed by message when that became clear. I understand that vintage work takes the time it takes — I would still bring the next watch here.
May 2025
Marc B.
Paris, France (sent by post)
I found Nakara Time through an online collector's forum after struggling to find anyone in Europe willing to work on an obscure Longines pocket movement. The fabrication of the worn pivot was exactly the kind of work I needed. The process took a few months, but the photos shared along the way made the wait manageable. The movement is now running smoothly and the documentation was thorough.
March 2025
In More Depth
Three Project Accounts
Case Study One
A 1950s Longines Movement, Missing a Balance Staff
The Situation
A Swiss pocket watch from the 1950s arrived with a balance staff sheared at the pivot, having been dropped some years earlier. The calibre was obscure and no spare parts could be located through the usual channels.
What Was Done
The balance was measured and a replacement staff was turned on the watchmaker's lathe using brass rod of the appropriate grade. The existing hairspring and roller were reused after inspection. The movement was fully serviced alongside the repair.
Outcome
The movement runs at +8 seconds per day, which is within acceptable range for a pocket watch of this age. Total project time was eleven weeks. The owner has since brought two further watches for routine servicing.
"I had been told by two other workshops that the watch was beyond repair. Nakara Time took the time to explain the approach and delivered exactly what was described."
Case Study Two
A Sentimental Seiko With a Faded Dial
The Situation
A 1970s automatic Seiko belonging to a customer's late father. The movement ran adequately but the dial had faded unevenly and one hand was bent. The owner was uncertain whether to restore the appearance or preserve the aged condition.
What Was Done
After a full discussion of the options, the owner chose to clean the dial carefully without repainting — preserving the honest age of the surface — and to replace the bent hand with a period-correct equivalent sourced from old stock. The movement was fully serviced.
Outcome
The watch was returned in four weeks, running within 10 seconds per day and looking exactly as the owner had hoped — its age apparent but not dishevelled. The owner collected it personally and said it was the right call.
"The most useful part was being walked through the choice before anything happened. I hadn't thought about what 'restoration' would actually mean for the dial until that conversation."
Case Study Three
Three Dormant Watches from a Single Family Collection
The Situation
A family in Bangkok sent three watches together — a dress watch from the 1940s, a sport watch from the 1960s, and a pocket watch of uncertain age — all of which had sat unused for more than a decade. Initial assessments were needed for all three before any decisions.
What Was Done
Each piece was assessed separately. The dress watch received a routine service. The sport watch required a new crystal and mainspring alongside the service. The pocket watch needed more extensive work and a fabricated click spring, and proceeded as a full vintage restoration.
Outcome
All three were returned over a period of twelve weeks, with separate documentation for each. The family now has a clear record of each piece's condition and service history — a practical legacy alongside the watches themselves.
"Receiving three separate documents was unexpected. It's a quiet thoughtfulness that made the work feel like it was taken seriously."
Reach Us
Contact Nakara Time
Telephone
+66 35 246 719Address
88 Naresuan Road, Tha Wang
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000
Hours
Tuesday – Saturday: 9:00 – 18:00
Closed Sunday & Monday
Your Turn
Is There a Watch Worth Revisiting?
Bring it in or write to us with a brief description. A written assessment is the natural first step, and there is no obligation to proceed beyond that.
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