The Atelier Wen Perception Millésime, in Titanium With Purple Dial (And something Tantalum too…)

Chinese watchmaker Atelier Wen, led by two Frenchmen, is launching the first timepiece in its annual “Millésime” series, designed to provide greater access for enthusiasts who previously missed out on owning a limited edition Perception watch due to fixed production runs as agreed with collaborative partners. In contrast with earlier limited editions released as partnerships, the Millésime is set to be Atelier Wen’s fan-driven project. With the Porcelain Odyssey series now discontinued, the honour naturally falls to a model from the ongoing sporty-integrated-bracelet Perception line, marking the brand’s first non-collaborative limited edition release. This timepiece, crafted according to Atelier Wen’s community wish list, reflects the desires of the brand’s loyal fans. Let’s take a closer look at how they envisioned the 2024 Perception Millésime 睦. And stay until the end, as there’s something special for a lucky few. 

The Atelier Wen Perception Millésime 睦 (Mù, meaning “amity” or “kinship” to reflect its connection with the community) comes in a grade 5 titanium case, water-resistant to 100m, and measures 40mm at its widest point while maintaining a slim 9.4mm thickness, including the double-domed sapphire crystal – identical in design and specs to the standard versions, and identical in material to previous limited editions. The design continues the series’ refined mix of brushed surfaces and polished accents. The screw-down crown is adorned with the brand’s logo, while the caseback, highlighted by a raised stone lion design and hammered metal details, offers a glimpse of the movement through its sapphire crystal semi-display.

The Perception’s guilloché dial, once again hand-crafted by China’s only guilloché master, Cheng Yucai, features the intricate écailles de poisson (fish scales) motif and is presented in a vivid purple that shifts in depth and intensity depending on the light – it’s a polarizing motif and colour and I’d personally love something a bit more subtle, in tone and texture, in future releases. The dial is framed by a chapter ring patterned with a Chinese huiwen design and printed in Super-LumiNova X1 grade for optimal visibility. Subtle applied rhodium-plated hour indices catch the light beautifully, while the leaf-shaped hands, filled with lume, provide a good contrast for easy readability. The hand-bent minute and seconds hands reflect Atelier Wen’s meticulous attention to detail.

The Purple Perception Millésime 睦 is powered by a customised Dandong SL1588A automatic calibre, showcasing refined decorations including circular Geneva stripes and perlage. Additional details include polished jewel and screw sinks, heat-blued screws, and a tungsten rotor coated in purple rhodium. The movement operates at 28,800 vibrations/hour and offers a 41-hour power reserve. The caseback’s window is relatively small, providing a glimpse of the balance; the rotor also comes into view for appreciation. A small, lacquered logo in purple on the caseback distinguishes this special Millésime edition.

The Perception’s titanium bracelet, designed for comfort, tapers from 22mm at the lugs down to 18mm at the clasp, where it also becomes slightly thinner. The bracelet features chamfered edges on all sides of the links, finished to match the case’s brushed and polished surfaces – it’s pretty impressive in the metal. The deployant clasp includes the same micro-adjustment system found in previous Perception editions. It features a quick-exchange mechanism, allowing easy swapping with the included rubber strap, which comes with its own folding clasp.

The Atelier Wen Perception Millésime 睦 will be available for pre-order online from October 7, 2024, for a limited two-week period. The price is set at USD 3,588 (excluding VAT) and the watch can be ordered from the brand’s website. Additionally, the first 88 online customers and those placing pre-orders at worldwide exhibitions will receive a complimentary full-grain leather strap, custom-designed to fit the Perception’s case.

A Special Full Tantalum Perception

To add excitement during the wait – deliveries are scheduled for May 2025 – the brand will randomly select three lucky winners to receive a full-tantalum prototype of the Perception Millésime, complete with solid tantalum “Willy Wonka-inspired” tickets. While the watch will launch officially in a titanium construction, this special trio, selected 100% at-random, will open their boxes to unveil a prototype of the same watch in full-tantalum. Knowing how difficult it is to machine tantalum, not even talking about making a bracelet in this rare and dense material, this is quite an impressive achievement from Atelier Wen. Those who will be lucky enough to get one should truly feel blessed.

Finally, the founders of Atelier Wen indicated to us that they will ultimately be the very first brand to go to market with a non-limited full-tantalum timepiece on a bracelet very soon. Another reason for us to look again at what this young, unconventional brand does. For more details, please visit atelierwen.com.