Atelier Wen x Revolution Perception Càn displays yet another take on hand-made, affordable guilloché
Fergus Nash- The Atelier Wen x Revolution Perception Càn is their second collaboration after just 6 months.
- The word Càn refers to brightness or radiance, captured by a golden champagne dial.
- It’s limited to 100 pieces, each guilloché dial hand-made by Master Cheng Yucai.
Atelier Wen have come a tremendously long way since launching their brand on Kickstarter in 2018. Having built increasing hype since the release of their sporty titanium watch, the Atelier Wen Perception, they’ve since expanded upon the collection with limited editions and a fairly hefty price increase. Just six months after their first collaboration with Revolution, the Atelier Wen x Revolution Perception Càn has now been announced with a golden dial.
Being a proud Chinese brand, the Atelier Wen Perception fuses traditional architecture into its case design. Although the sweeping wings on the side of the case might make you think of something like a Nautilus, it’s actually inspired by the roofs of Chinese pagodas. The 40mm diameter and 47mm lug-to-lug dimensions make it a comfortable wear on most wrists, further aided by the lightweight titanium construction and the 9.5mm thickness. Despite its slender proportions though, it’s still water-resistant to 100 metres, with a screw-down crown so you can take it swimming with peace of mind. The titanium bracelet still uses the attractive hex-link arrangement with a brushed surface layer to match the case but polished chamfers on the edges. That was actually quite a late decision in production, meaning all the existing bracelets needed to be pulled apart and each angle polished by hand. The titanium-coated steel clasp also features on-the-fly micro-adjustment to easily account for temperature changes.
While the case of the Atelier Wen x Revolution Perception Càn is great, the dial is the real drawcard. Each guilloché segment of every dial is hand-turned by Master Cheng Yucai, using a rose engine which he personally built in the pursuit of studying perfect guilloché. Taking up to 30 hours to create just one dial, any imperfection is enough to scrap the whole thing and start from scratch. There’s no shortage of guilloché dials in watchmaking, however a lot of them are replicated by stamps or CNC machines and lack the background of artistic struggle. That’s what makes Atelier Wen Perception watches so desirable, rather than anything as simple as a particular pattern or a colour.
That said, the pattern and colour are what sets this limited edition apart from the others in the series. The deep grooves emanate out in 24 sections, giving a delicate and complex impression of a floral motif. The Mandarin word Càn means bright, or radiant in an eye-catching way, and that’s a good way of summarising the champagne colour chosen for the dial. Leaning into the gold and honey tones, it gives the impression of sophistication at a glance.
Powering the watch is the Liaoning-Peacock calibre SL1588 made in Dandong, with a smooth 4Hz beat rate and a 41-hour power reserve. From factory, they’re regulated to an accuracy within +/-10 seconds per day, before being further regulated by Atelier Wen over five positions. The balance is visible through a smiling caseback window in the mouth of an engraved guardian lion.
The retail price of the Perception has risen steadily (and considerably) since its launch a few years ago, though it still offers a truly artisan way of creating a guilloché dial, and not to mention a full titanium construction. While it may not be the unmissable value proposition it used to be, the specs and craftsmanship on offer will still surely justify the price for many, as proven by the nearly instantly sold-out prior limited editions.
Atelier Wen x Revolution Perception Càn pricing and availability
The Atelier Wen x Revolution Perception Càn is limited to 100 pieces, arriving in a box which includes an extra rubber strap, a spring bar tool, and a travel pouch. Price: US$3,600
| Brand | Atelier Wen |
| Model | Perception Càn x Revolution |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 9.5mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal front |
| Dial | Champagne hand-made guilloché |
| Strap | Titanium bracelet with folding clasp, additional rubber strap |
| Movement | Liaoning-Peacock SL1588, automatic, regulated to +/- 10 seconds |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Limited edition of 100 pieces |
| Price | US$3,600 |