FAQs

If there are any changes that you need to make, do get in touch with us as soon as possible at hello@atelierwen.com and we will do our best to accommodate your request! If the watch has already been shipped, do note that you may be liable for any incurred costs.

If your desired changes relate to a reservation, please reach out to reservations@atelierwen.com

While our brand operates out of Hong Kong and our default currency is in HKD, payments can conveniently be made in your local currency, and can be converted at the current exchange rate.

Atelier Wen curates a careful and considered selection of retail partners around the world, and we are constantly on the lookout for more value-adding partners. Our current lineup of retailers includes the likes of Red Army Watches (Singapore), Chrono Theory (Japan), The Limited Edition (UK), and Manfredi Jewellers (USA). You can find our full list of retailer locations here.

Absolutely! You are welcome to purchase all three variations of Perception.

Yes! All orders placed ship with free express international shipping.

Our watches ship out of Hong Kong, where they are carefully packed.

Our watches ship worldwide with the exception of several countries including North Korea, Syria, Yemen and Eritrea. Do drop us a note at hello@atelierwen.com if you are unsure if we may run into any issues shipping to your location.

Should you wish to change your shipping address, do reach out to us at hello@atelierwen.com as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your request, but if the watch has already been shipped, do note that you may be liable for any incurred costs.

We operate under a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy. Within this period, you may return your watch at anytime provided that it is unworn. The refund will thereafter be refunded to you once our watchmakers have checked and verified the condition of the watch; accounting for shipping times and the availability of our watchmakers, please note that this may take up to 3-4 weeks — though we will, of course, strive to minimise the waiting time.

For watches purchased during pre-order and deposit runs, refunds and cancellations are managed on a case-by-case basis. We seek your understanding in this as a small, independent watch producer, since our volume and capacity of production is highly sensitive to the volume of orders committed to.

It takes 1 to 2 working days for us to process and ship your order. The order is shipped via express services and is usually delivered within 5 to 10 business days. Do note that delivery times may vary depending on the country of destination.

Do get in touch with us at hello@atelierwen.com should you encounter any issues along the way.

As we are based in Hong Kong, there is no VAT for any watches purchased locally. However, if you are shipping internationally, you will be liable for all import duties, customs and taxes levied in your country of residence. Payment of these is required to release your order from customs on arrival.

Taxes and duties are calculated according to the individual regulations of each area of jurisdiction. Please contact us if you have questions on customs processes regarding these areas of jurisdiction.

When your order dispatches, we will send you a tracking number via email notification.

Our watches components are proudly manufactured in stages at different facilities across China.

We do not presently have a showroom for our watches. However, should you be based in Paris, Hong Kong or Singapore, we would be happy to arrange for a meet-up and showcase the pieces. We also have a warm and welcoming WhatsApp community where you can get in touch with fellow Atelier Wen customers who may be willing to meet-up and show you the pieces!

All regular variants of Perception —缥 (Piao), 影 (Ying) and 霞 (Xia)— are not limited editions, and are only limited by production. We do, however, release occasional limited and/or collaboration pieces.

The Porcelain Odyssey collection, on the other hand, was released as a limited edition and will not be reproduced again.

Assembly and quality control is handled by one of the most competent watchmaking groups in China with standards equivalent to Swiss manufactures. We have a further sequence of quality control and regulation overseen by our in-house supply-chain manager, before the watches are sent for a final round of random testing by China’s foremost precision equipment testing facility, the Horological Research Insititute of Light Industry (HRILI). HRILI is responsible for the equivalent of ISO standards in China, as well as the testing of all precision equipment used in China’s space programme.

Hand-turnedguillochéis a centuries-old artistic craft that has often been synonymous with the highest echelons of watchmaking, with brands such as Breguet, Kari Voutilainen and J.N. Shapiro being amongst its chief proponents. Formed by rotating a dial blank against an engraving system called a rose engine, circular or straight patterns are determined by an arrangement of heavy brass rosettes, with these patterns being transferred through a series of gear reductions into an engraving tip that carves material out of a dial blank.

Most modernguillochédials are achieved using automated, cheaper processes such as CNC-milling and stamping (which do not technically constitute actualguilloché). However, the delicate artistry involved in turning realguillochémanually — through nothing more than the pressure and consistency of a master’s hands — is a rare and precious traditional craft that in many ways embodies the human pursuit of perfection.

There are fewer than 30 masters of the craft worldwide, and Master Cheng Yucai is the only master of his craft in Asia. Each singular dial takes a minimum of approximately 8 man-hours to complete.

The Atelier Wen team puts significant thought into the ideation behind each new project, considering carefully the materials used, as well as the complexity, complication and incorporation of traditional craft in every release. We then work with some of the best Chinese designers, craftsmen and manufacturing partners to actualise these ideas!

We get in touch with our craftsmen in several different ways. Robin’s advisory seat in the China Horologe Association (中国钟表协会) gives us great inroads into the country’s community of craftspeople and watchmakers, and we also actively seek out and approach the very finest artisans in China in the hopes of celebrating them on a global scale!

China has a long and rich history in craft and culture. While this has been somewhat usurped in the limelight by the country’s capacity for large scale manufacturing, the exceptional talents and narratives found within its borders are undeniably worthy of celebration. It is for precisely this reason that our brand seeks to cast that emphasis on these aspects once more, and generate new possibilities of modern Chinese style moving forward into the future.

The Porcelain Odyssey line is unfortunately sold out and permanently retired as a collection. It was launched as a limited edition, and while demand for the piece has never been higher, we cannot go back on our word and fully intend to live up to that commitment.

We are presently working on some new and exciting projects that we cannot wait to share with you. These will including some new collaborations, working with some rare and exquisite materials, as well as pushing the envelope of finishing standards and introducing complications. Needless to say, there is plenty to look forward to, so keep an eye out!

Taking proper care of your watch is essential to ensure that it is always functioning in optimal condition. We strongly recommend the occasional clean-down with a microfibre cloth and a fine brush to avoid dirt and grime build-up, as well as periodical servicing every 5 years.

Our watches are meant to be elevated yet reliable daily companions for you to enjoy under all circumstances. Do, however, takes some care in avoiding heavy shocks and vibrations, as well as exposure to excessively hot/cold temperatures and strong magnetic fields. Do also adhere to the varying water resistant ratings specified across our different lines, and always remember to keep your crown screwed down (where applicable) to preserve the integrity of its water resistance.

As water resistance varies across our different lines, do adhere to each specific watch’s rating. For example, Perception’s 100m/10ATM rating would allow for you to swim with it, whereas we would strongly discourage this with the 50m/5ATM rating found in the Porcelain Odyssey.

Do store your watch in a cool, dry environment when it is not in use, and keep it securely in a protective box to avoid accidentally damaging it in storage.

All our watches come with quick-release systems that make strap/bracelet changes intuitive and fuss-free. Simply engage the spring-bar trigger(s) found on the underside of the strap ends/end-links, and carefully manoeuvre the strap/bracelet out of the lugs and replace it with the strap of choice.

All our watches come with a 5 year warranty, valid from the date of delivery. This may vary, and the warranty’s terms will be stated in the paperwork included with the watch.

The warranty covers all manufacturing defects and mechanical issues that may arise within the confines of everyday use. Due to the fine tolerances present in mechanical watches, these issues are sometimes unavoidable and arise intermittently. They may not be immediately evident upon delivery, but the warranty allows us to ensure that these may be well-taken care of.

The warranty does not cover accidental damages or damages that arise due to improper use. It also does not cover wear-and-tear over time. Please do check your watch comprehensively upon receipt, and ensure that there are no cosmetic issues at the point of delivery.

• We receive your request.
• We coordinate a convenient date for pick-up at your convenience.
• We generate and issue you a shipping label in .pdf.
• You pack the watch and affix the shipping label and commercial invoices.
• The courier arrives on the designated date and you hand the parcel over.
• The watch arrives and is pre-checked upon receipt.
• The watch is fixed by our watchmaker partners.
• The watch is put through a timegrapher and/or necessary accuracy and water-pressure tests. The watch is sent back out to you.
• The watch is sent back out to you.

For any query related to aftercare and warranties, do reach out to us at hello@atelierwen.com and will assist you at the soonest possible time.

Definitely! Do reach out to us at hello@atelierwen.com, and we will gladly assist you in arranging for the watch to serviced. Do note that outside of the warranty, there will be a servicing fee incurred.

We have currently partnered with watchmakers located in France, Hong Kong and Singapore for aftersales provision. For watches outside of these countries, your watch will be sent to our designated partner in France.

We strongly encourage you to send your watch in for regular servicing every 5 years.

Including the time it takes for shipping, servicing should take approximately 6-8 weeks, though this may vary according to the location and/or extent of work.

Do consider subscribing to our newsletter or joining our exclusive WhatsApp community for the latest and greatest on anything Atelier Wen! We also keep a detailed journal on production and/or launches that can be found here.

We run an exclusive WhatsApp community where our team and/or your fellow enthusiasts will be happy to answer your questions. Do drop us a message at hello@atelierwen.com should you wish to be a part of it!

Do join our WhatsApp community, where you will get the chance to speak to both fellow enthusiasts of the brand, as well as the founders, Robin and Wilfried! Alternatively, drop us a note at hello@atelierwen.com and we will be in touch at the soonest possible time.

Absolutely! We hold in-person events from time to time, so do sign up to our newsletter, join our WhatsApp community, and/or follow us on Instagram if you wish to be kept notified of our events.