About Wela Naga
Grounded in Craft,
Guided by Patience
We are a Bangkok watch repair atelier committed to the quiet discipline of mechanical timekeeping — approaching each piece with care and without shortcuts.
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Fifteen Years on Sukhumvit Road
Wela Naga opened in 2009 in a narrow shophouse on Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Toei. The founder, Khun Weerachai Noppakun, had spent the previous decade servicing watches in the storerooms of two department stores before deciding that a dedicated independent workshop — small, focused, transparent — was the kind of place Bangkok actually needed.
The name "Wela Naga" combines the Thai word for time (wela) with the mythological serpent (naga) — a nod to the idea that time, like the naga, moves at its own deliberate pace. The workshop was designed from the beginning as a place where watches come to be understood, not just turned around.
Over fifteen years, the workshop has grown steadily through word of mouth. We now service mechanical, quartz, and antique pieces from across Thailand and for clients who travel through Bangkok specifically to use our atelier. Our team is small by choice — three technicians and one client services role — because we'd rather do fewer watches well than many watches quickly.
Our Mission
Responsible Care for Timepieces
Every watch that comes to us carries something beyond its mechanical function — memory, sentiment, or collector value. Our mission is to honour that by working carefully, documenting thoroughly, and communicating openly.
We don't pressure clients into servicing they don't need. We don't source cheap substitute components. We don't rush jobs to free up bench space. These aren't unusual positions to hold — they're simply how a workshop should operate.
Transparent pricing — quoted before work begins, no hidden additions.
Documented work — written condition reports with every mechanical service.
Period-correct components — sourced carefully for heritage pieces.
Owner updates — regular communication on longer restoration projects.
The People
Who Works on Your Watch
Our team is kept deliberately small. Each person is deeply familiar with the work, not managing a queue of strangers' watches from a distance.
Weerachai Noppakun
Founder & Lead Technician
Twenty-two years working with mechanical movements, the last fifteen at Wela Naga. Specialises in vintage Swiss and Japanese calibres and has a particular interest in pre-1980 automatic movements.
Pattaraporn Siripat
Watch Technician
Joined Wela Naga in 2016 following watchmaking studies in Chiang Mai. Handles quartz servicing and battery care packages, and assists on heritage restoration projects involving delicate dial work.
Nanthida Charoenwong
Client Services
The point of contact for most enquiries and collection appointments. Fluent in Thai and English, Nanthida prepares intake records, tracks service progress, and ensures owners receive timely updates throughout.
How We Work
Standards Across Every Service
Written Intake & Condition Record
Every watch is photographed and logged on arrival. The intake record captures existing condition — scratches, case wear, crystal damage — so there is no ambiguity on collection.
Ultrasonic Cleaning Process
Movement parts are cleaned in an ultrasonic bath using solutions appropriate for the material involved. Rubber seals and organic components are cleaned separately by hand.
Timing Machine Verification
All serviced mechanical movements are tested on a timing machine in multiple positions before reassembly. Results are recorded and shared with the condition report.
Water Resistance Testing
Mechanical and eligible quartz pieces are pressure-tested using calibrated equipment following service. Bangkok's humidity makes this particularly relevant for everyday wearers.
Secure Storage During Service
Watches in progress are stored in a locked, climate-regulated cabinet when not on the bench. We do not leave customer pieces unattended in an open workshop environment.
Movement Winder Break-In
After reassembly, automatic movements run on a winder for a minimum of 48 hours before final accuracy assessment. This allows the lubricants to distribute fully before timing is confirmed.
Expertise & Values
Why Independent Watch Repair Matters
Bangkok has many watch shops. Most handle new sales, and some offer servicing as an add-on. Fewer places are dedicated repair workshops where the technician who opens your watch is also the person who reassembles and tests it. That continuity matters — it means one person holds the full picture of your watch's condition rather than a service passing through multiple hands.
At Wela Naga, each watch is assigned to a single technician from intake to collection. This is not unusual in European workshops but is less common in Thailand. We think it should be more common. It creates accountability, clarity, and the kind of attention that comes from following one piece all the way through.
We also believe strongly in documentation. A written condition report isn't standard practice at most workshops in the region — but it gives owners a clear record of what was found and what was done. For collectors, insurers, or simply those who want to track the history of a cherished piece, that record has ongoing value.
Our pricing reflects the cost of doing this kind of work properly. We are not the cheapest option in Bangkok, and we don't claim to be. What we do claim is that a watch serviced here will leave in better condition than it arrived, and that you'll know exactly what happened to it while it was with us.
Bring Your Watch In
A Conversation Costs Nothing
Whether you have a watch in need of service or a question about a piece you've been hesitant to bring anywhere, we're glad to hear from you. No obligation, no pressure.
Get in Touch