Atelier Wen Perception Xuan Owner Review : Soothing, luminous and poetic

There are brands that simply release a limited edition in a different color. And then there are those that dare to make a deeper shift: not a cosmetic variation, but a change in material, narrative, and feel, all while drawing on their own imagination. The Atelier Wen Perception Xuán (2025 Vintage) falls into this second category. On paper, it's easy to summarize: the same Perception architecture, the same Vintage spirit as the Mù launched in 2024, but one striking difference… the natural pietersite stone dial replaces the "fish scale" guilloché pattern by master craftsman Cheng Yucai. One difference has a significant consequence: it transforms the watch into a landscape… ▶️ Xuán draws its inspiration from the Shānshuǐ Pénjǐng art tradition, representing miniature “Mountains and Water” gardens, which, in traditional Chinese architectural ensembles, served as a visual and symbolic center, representing a point of equilibrium. And that’s precisely what the dial does here: it becomes the center. The focal point. The heart of the watch. ▶️ Perception Proportions: A precision that makes you forget the technical specifications The Xuán returns in the Perception format: 40 mm, 9.4 mm thick (including the crystal), offering, like previous iterations, a beautiful and comfortable presence on the wrist… a watch that settles in effortlessly. What’s striking is the way the architecture holds itself together. The bracelet/case integration doesn’t need to prove its integration: it’s inherently so. The watch doesn't simply place a case on a bracelet; it unfolds in a continuous line, like a single object. This Millésime 2025 abandons the titanium of the Millésime 2024 (Mù) and adopts the characteristics of the Perception collection, with a case and bracelet in 904L steel, featuring contrasting surfaces and meticulous attention to detail in the finishing. The transitions in the finish, the edges, the chamfers, the overall geometry all work together: they capture the light without reflecting it like a mirror. It's a serious presence, one that doesn't reveal itself abruptly but unfolds gradually with finesse and lightness. ▶️ The Turning Point: Natural Pietersite Atelier Wen emphasizes its deep blue-black tones, swirling patterns, and the blend of blue, black, gold, and brown veins—a stone chosen precisely because it evokes the spirit of the Shanshuǐ Pénjǐng gardens, where the sensation of movement is sought: cascading water, mist, flow, circulation… and Chinese philosophy. As a natural stone, pietersite is often associated with the benefits of its “energy,” said to improve self-confidence or combat melancholy. Whether or not one finds oneself in this association, shaped by beliefs and destinies, will resonate with each individual. But in everyday life, this dial isn’t “read,” it’s contemplated in fits and starts. You think you’ve grasped its pattern. And then the light changes, you turn your wrist, you move from a dark interior to a sunny street: the stone reorganizes itself with a new energy. And that's the magic of the stone: it doesn't try to be perfect. It simply tries to be true, because it's unique to each watch. ▶️ A difficult stone, an even more difficult dial Technically speaking, pietersite is naturally fragile, and creating the dial required extensive preparation. The most delicate step was a compromise: polishing the pietersite to a perfect shine without removing too much material, in order to retain enough thickness for the stone to maintain its integrity. Although completely different from the guilloché of Master Cheng Yucai, Atelier Wen's philosophical approach is evident in this 2025 vintage: celebrating Chinese historical heritage through traditional materials and craftsmanship, in the form of ever-evolving allegories. ▶️ Everyday comfort: integrated bracelet and details that matter The 904L bracelet is brushed, with chamfered links, and tapers from 22 mm at the case to 18 mm at the buckle. The thickness gradually decreases from 3 mm to 2.6 mm, providing undeniable comfort, at least on the rather round shape of my wrist. But the true signature detail of the brand with the Perception collection is the folding clasp with fine adjustment or micro-adjustment on the fly via a "telescopic" folding blade system for added comfort. Quick-release spring bars allow you to change the look of your Perception with the four available rubber strap colors (FKM), each with an adjustable folding clasp. ▶️ A refined, decorated, and tested caliber: the discreet tool behind the scenery The Xuán is powered by a custom Dandong Peacock SL1588A caliber offering a 41-hour power reserve. Atelier Wen indicates an accuracy of +/-10 seconds per day, with adjustment in 5 positions and temperature variation compensation. This proven Chinese movement, featured in the Perception collection, has a simple role: to remain unobtrusive on the dial, while remaining refined, reliable, and consistent with the "Made in China" message of the Hong Kong-based brand. The Xuán features the semi-open case back of the Perception collection with a hammered texture surrounding a raised lion motif, a sapphire crystal window (with anti-reflective coating), and a vintage signature: the first 225 pieces are sequentially numbered and marked with a vintage seal. ▶️ A “wow” effect that lasts You can love it instantly for its stone dial, of course. But what endures are the less spectacular aspects: the comfort of the bracelet, the overall slimness, the balance of planes, the legibility despite the material, and the 10 ATM water resistance that makes it versatile. For eternity, the pietersite will offer you, at every moment, a color, a glow, a texture, an energy, nestled on your wrist in your own little secret garden… ▶️ What’s interesting about the Millésime approach is the philosophy behind the word. Like with wine, there’s the idea of a “vintage”: one year, one edition, and then never again. Atelier Wen presents Millésime as a space for freedom—an annual blank canvas to test the most daring or sought-after configurations—but with a strong community focus: remaining exclusive while being "obtainable" during the pre-sales launched from January 28 to February 6, 2026. With this Millésime 2025, Atelier continues, with sincerity and transparency, to educate us, taking us on a journey deep into the heart of ancient Chinese culture, much like Grand Seiko has done for Japanese culture. We wish Robin and Thomas, the brand's two co-founders, the same path, marked by patience and dedication. Priced at USD 3,600, the Atelier Wen Perception Xuán (2025 Vintage) embodies a simple idea: changing just the dial can transform the entire watch, because here, the dial is no longer just another color—it's a material, a scene, a movement, and a story… 😎 My "Mood Board" with this Atelier Wen Perception Xuán: Film: Raise the Red Lantern by Zhang Yimu (1991) Architecture: Shanshui City Location: Ninh Binh (Vietnam) All technical specifications are below or on the brand's website. XS