Escapement — Chiang Mai
A workshop where the work
comes before the sales pitch
We are a small watchmaking practice in Nimman. The name comes from the mechanism that regulates a movement's beat — steady, deliberate, and exact.
Back to HomeOur Story
How Escapement came to be
Escapement opened on Nimmanhaemin Road after its founder spent nearly a decade working under watchmakers in Chiang Mai and, for a period, in Geneva. The decision to open a small independent workshop came from a straightforward observation: most watches that come in for repair are not worn-out — they simply need attention from someone who knows what they are looking at.
The name was chosen because the escapement mechanism is, in many ways, the conscience of a watch. It is the part that controls how energy is released — measured, unhurried, consistent. That is the manner in which we try to approach every job that comes through the door.
From a battery replacement on a workaday quartz to a full disassembly of a 1960s dress watch, we apply the same standard of care. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is done without your knowledge. The bench record we hand you when the piece is collected is our way of making the work transparent.
Our Approach
What we stand behind
Nothing agreed without your consent
We assess and report. You decide. We do not begin work until scope and cost are clear to both parties.
Written record for every job
A bench report accompanies every completed piece — noting what was done, what was found, and, where relevant, before-and-after timing figures.
Respect for original character
Older and inherited pieces are handled with methods appropriate to their era. We do not polish cases that were never meant to shine.
A fixed address you can visit
88/3 Nimmanhaemin Road, Chiang Mai. You can walk in, follow up in person, and collect your watch when it is ready.
The People
Who works here
Nattawut Klinkhom
Founder & Watchmaker
Trained in Chiang Mai and spent several years working with Swiss-trained watchmakers before opening Escapement. Handles movement work across automatic and vintage calibres.
Pornpan Phattharaphon
Quartz & Case Specialist
Focuses on quartz servicing, water-resistance testing, and case refinishing for pieces where cosmetic work has been agreed. Manages the bench record system.
Araya Tanon
Client Liaison
First point of contact for new enquiries and collections. Coordinates timelines and ensures assessment notes are communicated clearly to owners before any work begins.
Workshop Standards
How we keep the work honest
Bench water-resistance testing
Quartz and sealed movements are pressure-tested before and after any work involving the case back or crown.
Timing machine verification
Automatic and mechanical movements are checked on a timing machine across multiple positions. Results are recorded and shared with the owner.
Manufacturer-spec lubricants
We use lubricants specified for each movement type and replace them fully rather than topping up worn oil.
Secure storage in progress
Watches in our care are kept in a locked work area. Access is limited to workshop staff during active bench hours.
Scope documented from the start
Every job begins with a written scope note. Nothing additional is carried out without owner approval, recorded in the same document.
Original-part preference
Where serviceable original parts exist, we retain and refurbish rather than replace. Substitutions are always discussed and agreed first.
The Craft
Watchmaking as a considered practice
Watchmaking at a workshop level involves work that is often invisible to the owner but felt in daily use. A movement that has been properly cleaned and lubricated keeps time more evenly and wears its parts more gently than one running on degraded oil. These are not dramatic changes — they accumulate quietly over years.
The same principle applies to older pieces. A watch from the 1950s or 1970s was designed to be serviced at regular intervals. Many go decades without attention and arrive at a workshop in a condition that makes people assume the worst. Frequently, the movement is sound and needs only cleaning, fresh oil, and a careful re-regulation. The case and dial may show their age, which is appropriate — these are not new watches, and they should not be made to look as though they are.
At Escapement, we service quartz movements for owners who want a reliable daily wearer back in rotation, automatic calibres for those noticing drift, and older hand-wind pieces for people who want something cared for rather than replaced. The work is done in Chiang Mai, at a fixed address on Nimmanhaemin Road, by the same small team that takes the assessment call and hands the piece back at collection.
If you have a watch that needs attention — or simply want to understand what it might need — a no-cost bench assessment is the place to start.
Next Step
Come and see what your watch needs
A bench assessment costs nothing and takes about fifteen minutes. Walk in during workshop hours or send a message first.
Contact the Workshop