Our Story
A workshop where time
is taken seriously.
Wela Atelier was founded on the belief that a watch deserves the same patience it measures.
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How Wela Atelier came to be
Wela Atelier opened on Charoen Krung Road in Bangkok's Bang Rak district, a street with a long association with skilled craft and quiet commerce. The name draws from the Thai word for time — เวลา — and it shapes everything about how the atelier works.
The workshop was started by watchmakers who had spent years working in repair benches across Thailand and abroad, and who felt that the trade had drifted toward speed rather than care. They wanted a place where a client could bring in a sentimental piece and feel that it was genuinely understood — not just processed.
From the start, the approach has been simple: look at the piece properly, write down what you find, talk to the owner before doing anything, and only proceed when everyone is comfortable. That rhythm has not changed since the first watches came through the door.
Today, the atelier handles mechanical movement servicing, vintage restoration, and complete overhauls. Each piece is worked on by the same person from assessment to completion, so there is always someone who knows its full history.
Mission
"To care for mechanical timepieces with the patience they deserve, and to keep their owners informed at every step."
12+
Years in the craft
3
Services offered
800+
Watches cared for
100%
Pre-work consultation
The People
Who looks after your watch
Nattakorn Khemarat
Head Watchmaker
Trained in mechanical horology in Thailand and Switzerland, Nattakorn leads all technical assessments and movement work. He has a particular interest in mid-century automatic movements.
Pimwadee Wattana
Vintage Specialist
Pimwadee joined the atelier after years working with private collectors in Bangkok. She oversees all vintage restoration projects and coordinates part sourcing for older calibres.
Chaiwat Thongchai
Client Liaison
Chaiwat manages all client communication, condition notes, and collection appointments. He takes care that every owner understands what is happening with their piece at each stage.
Standards
How we work, in practice
A set of working principles that every piece at the atelier benefits from, regardless of the service selected.
Written Condition Assessment
Every piece receives a written condition note before any work begins. This document records what we found, what we suggest, and why — and a copy is shared with the owner.
Appropriate Cleaning Methods
We use ultrasonic and mechanical cleaning methods suited to each movement type. Vintage parts with delicate surfaces receive appropriate solutions chosen for their age and condition.
Correct Lubrication Grades
Watchmaker-grade lubricants are applied at the correct points and in the correct quantities. Over- or under-lubricating a movement shortens its service life considerably.
Timing Verification
After reassembly, we run timing checks across multiple positions and record the deviation. The results are included in the completion note returned with the watch.
Safe Storage of Parts
Disassembled components are stored in labelled trays dedicated to each piece. Nothing is mixed, and no parts are borrowed from other jobs under any circumstances.
Secure Handling & Privacy
Client information and watch details are kept private and not shared with third parties. Pieces in our care are kept in a locked workshop outside of working hours.
Watch repair and restoration in Bangkok
Mechanical watches require periodic attention — not because they break, but because the lubricants that keep their parts moving smoothly degrade over time. A movement that has not been serviced in five to ten years will often be running outside its designed tolerances, even if it appears to be working normally.
Wela Atelier sits in Bang Rak, one of Bangkok's older commercial districts, and serves owners throughout the city and surrounding areas. We receive pieces from across Thailand and are comfortable communicating by phone, message, or in person at the workshop.
Our work covers three main areas: mechanical movement servicing for everyday automatic and manually wound watches; vintage restoration care for inherited or long-owned pieces where the original condition is important; and complete overhauls for watches that have not been opened in many years and need thorough attention across every component.
Each service is described in detail on our Solutions page, with pricing in Thai Baht. We are happy to discuss the right approach for your piece before committing to any service.
Next Step
Have a piece that needs looking at?
We are happy to have a first conversation by phone or message. There is no pressure and no obligation at the enquiry stage.
Get in Touch