Why Choose Cogwise
What we do differently,
and why it matters.
Watchmaking is a slow trade. The benefits of choosing a careful workshop become clear over time — in how the watch runs, in what you know about it, and in how long it stays right.
← Back to HomeAt a Glance
Six reasons people bring
their watches to Cogwise.
Sixteen Years of Watchmaking
Experience with a broad range of calibres, from everyday automatics to vintage and complicated movements.
Written Record with Every Service
You receive a printed sheet noting what was done, what parts were replaced, and the timing results measured.
Estimate Before Any Work Begins
Nothing proceeds without your agreement. The scope and cost are agreed in writing before the movement is opened.
Water Resistance Tested on Closing
Every opened case is pressure tested before it leaves the bench — a step many workshops skip.
Photo Updates on Restoration Work
Restoration projects are documented photographically at each agreed milestone, shared with the owner as the work proceeds.
Patina and Character Preserved
We do not polish surfaces or alter appearance unless explicitly asked. The age of a watch is part of its value.
Professional Expertise
Trained hands, appropriate tools, and time spent learning what each calibre requires.
The founder of Cogwise completed a formal watchmaking education in Solothurn and worked under senior craftsmen in Bangkok before establishing the workshop. That kind of learning cannot be replaced by a short course or on-the-job observation. It shapes how a movement is handled, what is looked for during assessment, and what the timing results mean in practice.
We do not take on work we are not equipped to complete correctly. When a calibre or complication falls outside the scope of what we can service well here, we say so and suggest a sensible path forward.
Calibre Knowledge
Experience across Swiss, Japanese, and German movements — ETA, Miyota, Seiko, AS, FHF, and several lesser-known calibres.
Complication Handling
Comfortable with date, day-date, GMT, chronograph, and moon phase functions. Complicated pieces assessed individually.
Vintage Experience
Worked on movements from the 1950s through the 1990s, including pieces where replacement parts must be fabricated or sourced from specialist suppliers.
Equipment
Timing machine, ultrasonic cleaning, pressure tester, and a full set of quality watchmaker's hand tools maintained and used correctly.
Service Process
-
01
Assessment
Movement examined, timing run measured, condition noted. Written estimate prepared.
-
02
Agreement
Scope and price confirmed with owner before any work begins. No surprises.
-
03
Service
Disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, lubrication with correct grade oils, reassembly.
-
04
Regulation
Timing adjusted across positions until within acceptable range. Results recorded.
-
05
Pressure Test & Handover
Case tested, service sheet prepared, watch returned with full written record.
Our Process
A clear sequence that removes uncertainty from beginning to end.
Many watch owners have had the experience of leaving a watch somewhere and receiving little information until it is returned — or not returned on the expected date. The Cogwise process is designed to avoid that. At each stage you know what is happening and why.
The process is the same whether the watch is a ฿3,600 battery service or a ฿34,200 restoration. The steps scale to the work, but the transparency does not change.
Value and Pricing
Pricing set by the work required,
not rounded upward by habit.
The service prices at Cogwise reflect what the work genuinely involves. Battery and seal service starts at ฿3,600 — this covers a correct-grade battery, new gaskets, and a pressure test. Movement servicing at ฿14,900 covers full disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, correct lubrication, and timing regulation. Restoration at ฿34,200 covers a fully documented process for sentimental and complicated pieces.
These figures are starting points. If a watch needs additional parts or has unexpected complications, those findings are shared before additional cost is incurred. You decide how to proceed.
Service Summary
Battery & Seal Service
Quartz watches · same or next day
Movement Service & Regulation
Automatic / hand-wound · 7–10 days
Restoration of a Cherished Watch
Heirloom / complicated · by scope
Comparison
What a specialist workshop offers
versus a general counter service.
| Feature | Typical Counter Service | Cogwise Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Written estimate before work begins | ||
| Timing results provided in writing | ||
| Pressure test after case closing | ||
| Patina and case finish left intact | ||
| Same person services every movement | ||
| Photo documentation for restoration | ||
| Service record stored and provided |
What Sets Us Apart
Details that distinguish the work.
A Single Craftsman on Every Movement
Unlike larger workshops where a movement might pass between technicians, at Cogwise the same hand that assesses a watch also services it. There is no hand-off, no lost context, and no assumption that someone else will catch what was missed.
A Record That Stays with the Watch
The service sheet we produce is formatted to be kept with a watch across its lifetime — not just a receipt. Subsequent owners, insurers, or future watchmakers can read exactly what was done and when.
Staged Restoration Planning
For restoration projects, work is broken into agreed stages with a clear scope for each one. If something unexpected is found partway through, the work pauses and the finding is discussed before proceeding. The owner remains in control throughout.
Plain Language, Not Technical Opacity
We explain what a watch needs in terms anyone can follow. If the answer is "the mainspring has set and needs replacing," we explain what that means for the watch's performance and how long the repair should last — not just the part name.
Milestones
What sixteen years
of careful work accumulates.
2009
Workshop Founded
in Patong
1,400+
Watches Serviced
Since Opening
100+
Distinct Calibres
Worked On
30+
Countries of Origin
Among Clients
Take the Next Step
Every watch that leaves our bench
leaves with a record of its care.
Drop by the workshop in Patong or send a message describing what you have — the make, a brief description of the issue, and how long it has been since the last service, if you know.
Book a Service