Atelier Wen is an independent watch brand founded by Robin Tallendier and Wilfried Buiron to reshape global perceptions of Chinese watchmaking. More than just treating China’s role as a manufacturer, the company has worked to elevate Chinese watchmaking artistry, presenting as equal to that of the traditional Swiss high-end Horology industry.
The primary focus of the artisan brand is on the dials of Watches, which they consider the most expressive component of a watch. By collaborating closely and transparently with the most proficient, skilled artisans within the entire nation of China, Atelier Wen transform their dials into Artworks that feature a wide range of traditional techniques typically not thought to be associated with Contemporary Luxury Watchmaking in China.
Atelier Wen has partnered with Master Cheng Yucai, renowned as the finest guild craftsman in all of China. Cheng uses a hand-made rose engine to craft intricate, hand-turned guild dials for Atelier Wen’s Perception Collection. Each dial requires numerous hours of carefully crafted, detailed work proving the uniqueness and accuracy of this craft.
With the addition of handmade items to its guilloche collection, Atelier Wen has begun working in different artistic disciplines such as making watches with Grand Feu enamel dials. This process requires extensive time and labor, sometimes taking more than three weeks to complete these dials. Atelier Wen has also introduced a unique texture of gratté finishing to their designs, something typically seen in only highly regarded independent manufacturers. This adds to the overall artistic value of Atelier Wen.
Atelier Wen places the artisans who work on their products in the forefront of their organization by recognizing their contributions and documenting their techniques and processes in internationally recognized shows and publications. This type of promotion challenges traditional perceptions about the quality of products manufactured in China and demonstrates the depth of the country’s rich craftsmanship tradition.
Creating a unique watch through the use of modern design elements along with traditional Chinese art, Atelier Wen also assists in the preservation of these long lost skills one dial at a time.