Atelier Wen Perception - I like it!

[JParm]

This looks great to me, especially as a knock-around watch on the rubber. Price is hard to beat as well. Might just order one...

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/at...ign=watchville

https://timeandtidewatches.com/in-de...-craftmanship/

https://deployant.com/review-the-new...uilloche-dial/

[charger_vital]

Not for me.

[_speedmaster_]

Looks like a nautilus and a VC 222 got together in a gas station rest room outside of a dodgy, off main strip Las Vegas casino.

[EdwardC]

I applaud the attempt, however I have my money spent elsewhere already.

[PBJ1925]

There's a Ming element in here somewhere too.

At a glance, I think it looks good.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

Looks like a nautilus and a VC 222 got together in a gas station rest room outside of a dodgy, off main strip Las Vegas casino.

Did that mean you don't like it?

[Rock Strongo]

For a "proudly Chinese" brand, they sure carry over the design ethos of their car companies and steal various elements from established brands to Frankenstein something together.

[_speedmaster_]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Did that mean you don't like it?

Just a tad.

[JParm]

I did not order one, but I definitely like the look (on rubber) and can respect what they're trying to do. A lot of vitriol in the Hodinkee comments regarding the China connection, but I'm more open-minded there.

[enjoythemusic]

Interesting for sure. Close, but not quite. Get some workers to put handcrafted magic into their (newly modded) ETA movement and price it at $4k. Dial is good, bracelet looks nice, now it needs a finishing human touch. Think along the lines of Grand Seiko decoration.

China is fine, and back in pocketwatches days the USA produced outstanding pieces priced well too. Love Swiss made, yet who makes the iPhone and many other precision electronics. Who knows, one day China could develop a unique modern expression within their 'boutique' movements.

jmho

[fullofboats]

Originally Posted by Rock Strongo

For a "proudly Chinese" brand, they sure carry over the design ethos of their car companies and steal various elements from established brands to Frankenstein something together.

Ignorant comment. You don’t like the watch? You think it’s a crappy knock-off? Cool. But why bring race or nationality into it. Where’s your outrage for all the Swiss brands ripping off Genta for the past 50 years…

Btw, this is a company founded and owned by two Frenchmen but don’t let facts get in the way of your biases.

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

Ignorant comment. You don’t like the watch? You think it’s a crappy knock-off? Cool. But why bring race or nationality into it. Where’s your outrage for all the Swiss brands ripping off Genta for the past 50 years…

Btw, this is a company founded and owned by two Frenchmen but don’t let facts get in the way of your biases.

Where does he bring in race? It's a Chinese company, that's all he said. Or aren't they Chinese?

I've followed their story on WUS a couple of years ago.

[_speedmaster_]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

Ignorant comment. You don’t like the watch? You think it’s a crappy knock-off? Cool. But why bring race or nationality into it. Where’s your outrage for all the Swiss brands ripping off Genta for the past 50 years…

Btw, this is a company founded and owned by two Frenchmen but don’t let facts get in the way of your biases.

You're being overly sensitive here. He is saying it is ironic a company, which states it celebrates Chinese heritage, is copying Swiss design language. Make no mistake, it is indeed ironic. The fact that this brand was created and is owned by two Frenchmen does not diminish the irony.

For the record, I hate when anyone copies a Genta design at this point. It's lazy.

There is also no denying the, let's say, heavily borrowed automotive designs. But I won't get into that.

[VFA]

Terrible

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

...is copying Swiss design language.

Love ya, truly do. Yet for some pieces... in fact that's what makes me keep the ONLY PP remaining within my collection, Thie 3820 copies Breguet quite strongly. You could say PP copies other Swiss brands.

Patek_3820rg.jpg

[Rock Strongo]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

Ignorant comment. You don’t like the watch? You think it’s a crappy knock-off? Cool. But why bring race or nationality into it. Where’s your outrage for all the Swiss brands ripping off Genta for the past 50 years…

Btw, this is a company founded and owned by two Frenchmen but don’t let facts get in the way of your biases.

Yikes, easy there. The brand’s tagline is “proudly made in China,” and I’m pointing out the ironic comparison to the Chinese auto industry that’s notorious for similar unoriginal design amalgamation. It’s an objective observation.

The only Swiss car company I know is Rimac and they don’t have a famous track record of stealing design cues.

Of course there is plenty written about Genta “inspired” watch designs but that’s not my point.

[londonpilgrim]

Originally Posted by Rock Strongo

Yikes, easy there. The brand’s tagline is “proudly made in China,” and I’m pointing out the ironic comparison to the Chinese auto industry that’s notorious for similar unoriginal design amalgamation. It’s an objective observation.

The only Swiss car company I know is Rimac and they don’t have a famous track record of stealing design cues.

Of course there is plenty written about Genta “inspired” watch designs but that’s not my point.

Yes, would agree. I try not to buy anything made in China, for ethical reasons, but luckily, these watches are horrible.

[_speedmaster_]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Love ya, truly do. Yet for some pieces... in fact that's what makes me keep the ONLY PP remaining within my collection, Thie 3820 copies Breguet quite strongly. You could say PP copies other Swiss brands.

Attachment 1286771

I blame Swiss companies too, not a fan of blatant copying of designs. Don't care who does it. Hate it in the auto industry too.

But it's more ridiculous in this case because Atelier Wen are touting Chinese heritage... and then ripping off Swiss designs. It's comical.

Side note…Breguet doesn’t get enough credit for their historical contributions and definitely deserve more credit for their current offerings.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

side note…breguet doesn’t get enough credit for their historical contributions and definitely deserve more credit for their current offerings.

Agreed

Oh_Yeah_Sunglasses.gif

[Jmaster]

This design seems to be more a business decision than any design language. Genta like design is the current market hype and they are following that trend. On a pure business perspective, this is commercially successful for them as this watch was sold out after a day vs the brand’s older products that took a while to sell out.

I think it’s unfortunately how it is now the market. A micro brand that wants commercial success has to provide a product that align with the hype. I actually really like the dial - it looks amazing and lovely story about it being made by Chen on a machine that he designed. Also it looks like it has an interesting clasp, and I’m intrude by how it actually works. Too bad business decision over took the real value of this line. Those are the positives but totally overshadowed by the Genta like design that, as Speedmaster said…comical.

[GB-man]

It’s a turd

[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by GB-man

It’s a turd

[_speedmaster_]

Originally Posted by GB-man

It’s a turd

Simple and to the point. Hahaha

[Ichiran]

It's a nice package at a very reasonable price. Hand-guilloche dial with 222-esque bracelets for that price. Not bad for a first attempt. Commendable effort.

Next step is do a MB&F and "partner" with Voutilainen on movement finishing, Moser/DB on themes, then raise the price to 150k. Rebrand as "Wen & Friends" and ta-da!

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by charger_vital

Not for me.

x2

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

Next step is do a MB&F and "partner" with Voutilainen on movement finishing, Moser/DB on themes, then raise the price to 150k. Rebrand as "Wen & Friends" and ta-da!

[enjoythemusic]

Honestly, it's great to see Asia kicking it up a notch or three. Grand Seiko, Wen, and hopefully five or ten others will be creating amazing timepieces in the years to come. We all know Asia is capable of handcrafting truly amazing timepieces (ok, knock-offs at times yet soon they may create their own to compete with the masses). I very much look forward to the competition heating up as British and American watchmakers are also more strongly moving into the mechanical timepiece manufacturing sector.

This is a great move forward as more companies produce mechanical timpeices at various price levels.

PS: Weeks ago watched a real versus knock-off PP Naut video, and after seeing the movement, casework, dial, etc it felt like the Asian version was a truly outstanding bargain(!). Far better movement work than Wen IMHO. i don't support the knock-off market, yet imagine if Asian watchmakers decided to make their own timepieces finished to nearly the same level as PP for $1000 instead of a knock-off for $500. The YT video i saw was quite enlightening for what can be done for under $1000, now they just need a few original designs.

We live in interesting times.