Introduction
Since we first unveiled Perception in 2022, it has served as our canvas for exploring the highest levels of Chinese craftsmanship. This watch challenged perceptions of what Chinese watchmaking could be.
But at Atelier Wen, we do not believe in standing still. We have spent the last two years listening, refining, and obsessing over how to elevate this collection.
Today, we are proud to present Perception V3.
Refining The Vision
Perception V3 is a total technical refresh. We are always striving for a best-in-class ideal, and V3 represents the no-compromise vision we have spent two years refining. It is a significant step forward from its predecessors, building upon the design language that first defined Perception.
Continuous Improvement
V3 incorporates everything we have learnt from our artisans and our collectors over the past two years into one great technical achievement, allowing us to elevate every last component of the timepiece to another tier of watchmaking.
For starters, we have introduced a heavily customised Pequignet Calibre EPM03. Not only is it technically brilliant, but also beautifully finished in a wind-inspired aventurine style. So proud are we of this new movement that it is on full display for our collectors to admire via a full exhibition caseback.
The dials of our V3 timepieces are equally impressive to behold. We opted for sharper angles and stronger directional brushing on Piāo and Xiá. We are also proud to introduce 筠 (Yún), our permanent Bamboo Green reference, featuring a unique, sleek micro-frosted case and bracelet finish.
A Heart That Beats With Intent
When we first designed Perception, the focus was clear: the dial and the case. The hand-crafted guilloché and the architectural lines. The movement was always there, performing reliably, quietly, but it was never part of the main story.
With V3, that changes.
We spent a long time searching for the right calibre. Not just one with the right technical credentials, but one that gave us the creative latitude to make it entirely our own. We found that in the Pequignet EPM03, a French-made movement with chronometer-grade accuracy and a 65-hour power reserve, and then we got to work.
The previous SL1588 movement used in V2 was a classic foundation calibre we selected for its slim profile. But now, V3 completely retires the automatic movement. EPM03 is a new bespoke movement developed by Pequignet, which we highly customised for Perception V3, bringing our vision of redefining modern horology through Chinese craftsmanship and Sino-French identity. With EPM03, we were able to elevate every aspect of the movement, from the aventurine lacquer finish to the chronometer-grade accuracy, which has been refined to deliver a more complete version of the Perception.
Visible through a new exhibition caseback, our movement features sweeping, arcing bridges redolent of traditional depictions of the wind, and the mirror-polished blue aventurine lacquer recalls the celestial depth of the night sky. The rotor has frosting and snailing, alongside the wavy côtes de Genève, reminding the collector that this movement is not just a pretty face, but grounded in solid technical know-how.
Deeply laser-etched markings on the ratchet return wheel, black-polished screws, and a rotor finished with both frosting and snailing create layers of visual detail throughout the movement. Additional finishing includes a snailing barrel and perlage across the baseplate.
Collectors may be familiar with the wavy côtes de Genève finishing which radiates from the centre of the escapement bridge, first seen on Inflection. Not only does it reinforce the visual motif of wind and sky, but it also reminds the wearer of our signature style, keeping the Atelier Wen DNA between our lines alive.
筠 (YÚN): A Scholarly New Perspective
Atelier Wen listens to its community, and one request has sounded louder than any other. We've done green before. Twice, in fact, both times as limited collaborations, and on each occasion they sold out and held their value in ways that told us the demand was real and lasting. But releasing a permanent green variant meant doing it on our own terms.
Since the limited edition collaborations with Wristcheck in 2022 and seconde/seconde/ in 2023, our community has been clamouring for a permanent green dial. Values on the secondary market remained high, reflecting enduring demand from new collectors. And so we listened, and that required answering a question that turned out to be harder than it sounds: which green?
Not every shade works. Too saturated, and it competes with the rest of the watch. We wanted to produce a watch that would age gracefully, feel considered rather than trendy, and carry the weight of what 筠 actually means.
With 筠 (Yún), we established this pillar of our collection, and have finally introduced a green dial to our permanent line-up. This green is an all-new shade which was intentionally selected to recall the leafy hues of the bamboo forests in China. Prized across centuries for its strength, flexibility, and rapid growth, bamboo has long symbolised resilience in Chinese culture. Indeed, this resolute but fast-growing grass has been a symbol of elegance, modesty, and steadfastness since antiquity. It is these qualities that have garnered bamboo the association with the virtues of a scholar in Chinese traditional culture.
The Architecture of Frost
We wanted Yún to offer an altogether different feel to its siblings, Piāo and Xiá. This led us to a long-term collaboration with our case and bracelet maker to master a special micro-frosted finish that gives Yún a softer, more uniform appearance than traditional brushed surfaces.
This architectural texture makes the mirror-polished chamfers "pop," highlighting the structural lines of the case and bracelet, creating a dynamic contrast that gives Yún a more modern identity.
Refining The Architecture
The evolution of V3 extends to the very feel of the steel. To achieve the level of crispness we demanded of our pieces, a lapidary machine was used to mirror polish the entire case with a high-precision, flat spinning disk. This allowed us to create perfectly flat surfaces and razor-sharp transitions between the brushed and polished planes. The result is a case with defined architectural angles that catches the light in a way unlike any other.
Evolution of the Bracelet
Based on our community's feedback, we sought not to reinvent the bracelet but to perfect it. V3 retains the iconic integrated 904L stainless steel bracelet loved by our collectors for its elegant tapering and superior comfort. Now we have focused on the enhanced construction of each individually chamfered link, not only to maintain the elegant tapering and aesthetic of the previous generation but also to augment the flexibility and drape on the wrist to ensure V3 feels as good as it looks.
The deployant clasp has also received a significant upgrade in finishing and now features internal perlage and hand-polished bevels. These aesthetic upgrades do not come at the expense of functionality, with the telescopic deployant blade system also ensuring comfort and wearability, quick-release spring bars, and our proprietary on-the-fly micro adjustment system allowing the collector to alter how their watch wears on the go.
A Crown of Traditional Motif
The refinement extends even to the tactile experience of winding. For V3, we have introduced a re-proportioned and slimmer screw-down crown adapted from our Ancestra model that sits more elegantly on the case side and more comfortably against your wrist.
In keeping with the sportier nature of Perception, it has eight facets, each intricately etched with traditional Hui Wen (回纹) motifs instead of the usual ridged knurling. Also known as the "meander" or "eternal" pattern, this ancient Chinese design brings cultural depth to this vital component. As the collector turns the crown to set the time, the engraved Hui Wen motif offers a subtle reminder that this purely functional component is another expression of Chinese design heritage.
Indeed, Atelier Wen has striven to ensure that every interaction with the watch is considered and intentional.
A Note On Craft And Delivery
While Perception V3 joins our permanent collection, its release remains tethered to the pace of human hands.
Each component is crafted with intention. The ambitious aventurine lacquer finish on our new Pequignet Calibre EPM03 movement is painstakingly applied and polished - a process which is both time-intensive and subject to rigorous quality controls. Any lacquer-work that doesn’t meet our high standards is discarded, and the finishing will begin anew. Moreover, each dial is individually turned on a hand-built rose-engine lathe by Master Cheng Yucai - China’s foremost guilloché master craftsman - and a small group of his hand-selected apprentices.
None of the processes involved in assembling V3 are or can be rushed. As we scale our production to meet the global demand for Perception V3, we are organising our fulfillment into dedicated batches.
- The first 300 orders will be delivered in September 2026
Following the first batch of 300 watches, subsequent deliveries will be organised in additional batches as production progresses.
We invite you to discover the full technical specifications and the stories behind the new references on our collection page.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Perception V3 is a testament to our community’s feedback and our team’s unwavering ambition to push Chinese horology into the future.
Warmly,
The Atelier Wen team
Technical Specifications
Movement
- Self-winding heavily customised Pequignet Calibre EPM03
- 3/4 bridge filled with blue aventurine lacquer
- 65-hour power reserve | Chronometer-grade accuracy (-4/+6s)
Case & Bracelet
- 40mm x 10.4mm; 904L stainless steel (incl. crystal)
- Water resistant to 100m/10ATM
- Sapphire box crystal with 10 layers of internal anti-reflective coating
- Full exhibition caseback with sapphire crystal window coated with 10 layers of internal anti-reflective coating
- Integrated bracelet with our patent-pending micro adjustment system
Variants
- Yún (筠): Bamboo Green guilloché dial; Micro-frosted & mirror-polished case/bracelet
- Piāo (缥): Ice Blue guilloché dial; Brushed & mirror-polished case/bracelet
- Xiá (霞): Salmon guilloché dial; Brushed & mirror-polished case/bracelet
Availability
- Pre-orders open from 19 May 2026, 10:00 HKT
- Batch 1 delivery (300 pieces) in September 2026
- Subsequent deliveries will be organised in additional batches as production progresses