Introducing The New Atelier Wen Ancestra (Jiao) Launch Edition

Atelier Wen was founded in 2018 by two Frenchmen, Robin Tallendier and Wilfried Buiron. The brand rose to prominence with its porcelain-dialed Odyssey and the intricate guilloché-dialed Perception. Now, after more than three years without a major new release, Atelier Wen returns with Ancestra, a new dress watch collection that fuses deeply rooted Chinese mythology with refined mechanical artistry. The first chapter in this line is Jiāo (蛟), a watch that celebrates dragons as cultural memory.

The watch is housed in a 904L stainless steel case measuring 38mm in diameter, 11.3mm in thickness, and 46mm lug-to-lug. Its design draws inspiration from the Zhūlóng (猪龙), the “pig-dragon” jade carvings of the ancient Hongshan culture, believed to be humanity’s earliest depictions of dragons. Designed by Sifan Guo and Alfred Chan, the case features detached, downward-curving lugs secured with engraved bolts bearing a traditional huíwén (回纹) motif. A combination of brushed mid-case and polished accents adds sculptural nuance, while the screw-down crown is engraved with Chinese border patterns.

Turn the watch over, and you'll find Atelier Wen’s first open caseback. The three-quarter bridge of the movement is micro-etched with 446 Chinese characters, forming a poetic excerpt from Tianwen (“Heavenly Questions”) by the ancient poet Qu Yuan. This intricate engraving is achieved using YAG laser technology to a depth of just 0.10mm. Despite the open caseback, the watch maintains a water resistance of 100 meters.

The focal point is the fumé grand feu enamel dial, crafted by master artisan Kong Lingjun in his Beijing workshop. Beginning with a hand-hammered 925 silver baseplate, the dial undergoes six kiln firings at temperatures between 750°C and 850°C. The result is a gradient that transitions from silvery-white at the center to deep cobalt blue at the edges, evoking the mysteries of the ocean and the mythical home of dragons.

The dial displays odd hours using stylized Chinese calligraphy numerals designed by Elaine Wong, while even hours are marked by Western-Arabic numerals inspired by bamboo-leaf script, created by Lee Yuen-Rapati. Between them, baguette-cut diamonds are flush-set into the enamel. The leaf-shaped hour and minute hands follow a new Atelier Wen design language with tri-planed surfaces, a frosted center ridge flanked by highly polished concave edges.

Powering the watch is the Pequignet Calibre EPM03, marking Atelier Wen’s first use of a non-Chinese movement. This automatic calibre features a bi-directional winding automatic system with a tungsten rotor, operates at 28,800vph (4Hz), and offers a 65-hour power reserve. Each movement is regulated to chronometer standards (-4/+6 seconds per day), undergoing 16 days of testing and manual adjustment in six positions and under varying temperatures. 

The watch comes fitted with a taupe Epsom leather strap, hand-stitched by Chinese artisans and lined with Zermatt calfskin leather from France's Haas tanneries. It is secured with a stainless steel pin buckle that features hand-applied mirror-polished bevels, satin brushing, and a lacquer-filled Atelier Wen logo on the inside. Atelier Wen is offering the Jiāo through a seven-day order window, with deliveries scheduled for the second quarter of 2026 (April–June). The watch is priced at USD 5,850, equivalent to AED 21,500.

For more information, visit Atelier Wen’s official website.