Atelier Wen Introduces INFLECTION: The Premier Serially Manufactured Full-Tantalum Bracelet Watch

The series showcases grand feu enamel dials crafted by Kong Lingjun’s workshop in three unique versions.

Atelier Wen

Atelier Wen's INFLECTION line signifies a key accomplishment for the emerging independent brand, introducing the inaugural non-limited, serially manufactured full-tantalum bracelet watch. Tantalum, a rare and notoriously challenging metal to manufacture, is renowned for its dark bluish-grey hue, density, and corrosion resistance. Atelier Wen has expanded the application of the material in watchmaking from cases to both cases and bracelets, with each link precisely finished in brushed, frosted, and mirror-polished surfaces. The design eschews flat surfaces in favor of undulating concave and convex curves, intentionally alluding to the Chinese philosophical notions of yīn and yáng, emphasizing harmony and duality while providing visual depth and wrist comfort.

Atelier Wen

The line features a grand feu enamel dial created by the esteemed workshop of Kong Lingjun, a prominent brand in China's enamel industry. The collection comprises two permanent variants and one limited launch edition, featuring dials named “Mò” (obsidian black with gilt numerals and gold-plated hands), “Yuān” (midnight blue with white numerals and rhodium-plated hands), and “Yōu” (fumé green enamel, limited to 30 pieces, with a hand-hammered silver base). Each dial undergoes a meticulous multi-stage process of stacking, firing, and polishing, with a significant failure rate of approximately 50%, highlighting the rarity and artisanal expertise inherent in each piece. The numbers, crafted by Lee Yuen-Rapati, accentuate the collection's amalgamation of cultural narrative and modern style.

Atelier Wen

INFLECTION is fundamentally driven by a bespoke Girard-Perregaux caliber 03300, famous for its accuracy and exquisite craftsmanship. The movement showcases expansive, skeletonized bridges influenced by wind themes found in traditional Chinese art, ruthenium plating, precise anglage, and laser-etched côtes emanating from the center. A dual-component rotor with rose-gold-plated skeletonized spokes and a tungsten weight provides dynamic contrast, harmonizing seamlessly with the underlying bridges throughout rotation. The movement has automated winding, hacking seconds, a slender 3.36mm profile, and a 48-hour power reserve, highlighting the collection's technical superiority.

The INFLECTION line, priced at $29,800 USD for a full-tantalum bracelet and $19,800 USD for sailcloth and FKM rubber straps, exemplifies Atelier Wen’s aspiration to elevate its status within the domain of haute horology. For additional information, see the brand's official website.