About Dao Siam
A workshop built on patience and craft
We opened in Chiang Mai's old city quarter to offer watch owners a place where their timepieces receive considered attention rather than hurried throughput.
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Sixteen years in the old city
Dao Siam opened its workshop on Thanon Ratchadamnoen in 2009. The founding idea was straightforward: Chiang Mai had plenty of shops selling watches, but finding a workshop where mechanical movements were serviced with real care took more searching than it should. We decided to fill that gap quietly, without fanfare.
The name carries meaning. Dao — star — speaks to precision and navigation. Siam roots us in this country's long tradition of craft. Together they reflect what we try to do: bring reliable skill to work that matters to the person who owns it.
Over sixteen years we have worked on everyday wearers brought in by local families, on collectible movements sent to us from across Thailand, and on inherited timepieces whose owners wanted someone to look after them thoughtfully. We have not grown into a chain. We remain a workshop, deliberately.
Every watch that comes through the door is recorded, assessed, and discussed with its owner before anything is done. We believe that transparency about condition — and about cost — is simply part of the work, not an optional extra.
2009
Year the workshop opened in Phra Sing, Chiang Mai
Our mission
"To care for mechanical watches with the patience they deserve — offering owners honest information, agreed plans, and workmanship that respects both the piece and the person."
Our approach
- Condition assessed and written down before work begins
- All steps agreed with the owner in advance
- Work carried out at a pace suited to the piece
- Original components conserved wherever possible
The People
Who works on your watch
A small team with complementary skills. Every member has been working with mechanical movements for many years.
Nattapong Sirisak
Head Watchmaker
Trained in mechanical horology over two decades, Nattapong leads all movement work at Dao Siam. He specialises in vintage calibres and is the person who writes every condition assessment.
Waranya Charoenwong
Refinishing Specialist
Waranya handles all case and bracelet work. Her considered approach to surface finishing — knowing when to stop as much as knowing where to start — makes her well suited to work on pieces with original character worth keeping.
Pichit Thongma
Parts & Heritage Research
Pichit manages the workshop's parts knowledge and supplier relationships. For heritage movements where original components are no longer produced, he coordinates sourcing and documents all options before any decision is made with the owner.
Our Standards
How we work, in practice
Written condition notes
Before any work begins, we record the watch's condition in writing. You receive this note and decide what you would like to proceed with. It is yours to keep regardless.
Agreed work only
Nothing is done that has not been discussed and agreed with you. If we find something unexpected during the work, we stop and contact you before continuing.
Service warranty
All standard services carry a workshop warranty covering the movement work carried out. The terms are explained clearly when your watch is collected.
Transparent pricing
Service prices are stated clearly. If an assessment reveals work that would change the cost, we tell you before proceeding — not after.
Original parts preserved
We conserve original components where they can continue to function. Replaced parts are returned to the owner if requested — your watch's history stays intact.
Secure handling
Every watch is logged on arrival with a reference number. Access to workshop benches is restricted to the team handling the work. We hold appropriate insurance for items in our care.
Our Values
What we believe about this work
Mechanical watchmaking is one of the few disciplines where the results of patient work are plainly visible. A movement cleaned and lubricated correctly runs smoothly for years. One that receives a quick wipe and a standard lubrication schedule will falter sooner. The difference is not mysterious — it is the difference between attention and inattention.
We find that owners of mechanical watches tend to understand this. They come to Dao Siam not because they want the fastest turnaround in Chiang Mai, but because they want to know that their watch has been looked at properly. Many of our clients bring us pieces they inherited or collected over years. They want to understand the watch's condition honestly, and to make an informed decision about what to do — not to be told what they should spend.
Our work with heritage movements is perhaps where this philosophy is most visible. An older mechanical calibre carries information in its wear patterns. Knowing which components to replace and which to leave — and explaining that reasoning clearly — is part of what we offer. We consider conservation to be as important a skill as replacement.
Chiang Mai has been a city of craftspeople for a very long time. The workshops along Thanon Wualai, the silversmiths, the weavers — they share with us an understanding that careful work done well is its own kind of reputation. We are glad to be among them.
Would you like to discuss your watch?
We welcome visits to the workshop without appointment. For watches that need detailed discussion, you're also welcome to write or call first.