Atelier Wen Ancestra 蛟 Jiāo
The Chinese character 蛟 refers to a water dragon from the deep, a creature older than written history. The first recorded depiction of a dragon in human history is not a Chinese calligraphic symbol or a medieval tapestry, but an enigmatic C-shaped jade pendant with a coiled serpent and a pig's snout, dating back to the Hongshan culture of Northeast China from the fourth millennium BCE. This 猪龙, literally a pig-dragon, shaped the Ancestra 蛟 watch.
Case: jade dragon translated into steel
The detachable case lugs adopt the sinuous curves of Hongshan jade, naturally circling the mid-case with a finely brushed, pebble-like surface. This design approach is not merely aesthetic; it allows for a significantly higher degree of finishing for each surface individually, with sharper transitions between finishes and a greater number of finishing techniques. The lugs are attached to the case with internal screws and adorned externally with engraved bolts featuring the huí wén motif, a traditional Chinese geometric pattern.
The case diameter of 38 mm and a lug-to-lug length of only 46 mm are the result of a deliberate decision. The curved lugs point steeply downwards, conforming to the wrist regardless of its circumference. The height of 11.3 mm (9.05 mm without crystals) allows for elegant wear under a cuff.
Dial: grand feu enamel and hand-hammered silver
The dial base is a plate of pure 925 silver, hand-hammered using the martelé technique, whose tiny indentations under a layer of enamel create the illusion of a moving sea surface. On this base, grand feu enamel is applied in Kong Lingjun's workshop in six consecutive firings at temperatures ranging from 750 to 850 °C. The fumé colour gradient begins with a pale, almost silvery central zone and seamlessly transitions to deep cobalt at the periphery. The production process has a failure rate of approximately 50%. Kong Lingjun is the founder of China's leading workshop for enamelling watch dials, which in 2021 received the status of National Centre for the Production of Enamelled Watches from the Chinese Horological Association.
The model is available in two variants of indices. In the first, odd hours are marked by numerals in traditional Chinese calligraphic script, specially created for Atelier Wen by Hong Kong calligrapher Elaine Wong, while even hours feature bamboo leaf-inspired Arabic numerals by designer Lee Yuen-Rapati. In the second variant, the order of the indices is reversed. Baguette-cut lab-grown diamonds are set between the typographic markers, subtly highlighting alternating hours. The triple-planed leaf hands have micro-hammered top surfaces and deeply scooped polished sides.
Movement: Pequignet EPM03 with a poem from the 3rd century BCE
The three-quarter bridge of the Pequignet EPM03 calibre features laser micro-engraving performed by a YAG laser. The concentric lines of text form 446 characters of the poem 天问 (tiān wèn), Heavenly Questions, attributed to the poet Qū Yuán, who lived from 340 to 278 BCE. The engraving depth is 0.10 mm with the bridge itself being only 0.25 mm thick – a degree of precision and legibility that is quite extraordinary in the industry. The balance cock and escape wheel are black polished across their entire surface. The skeletonised monobloc tungsten rotor features a colimaçonnage pattern, a laser-engraved huí wén pattern, and a 5N rose gold coating.
The movement achieves chronometric accuracy of -4/+6 s/day, is regulated in six positions and three temperatures, and undergoes 16 days of continuous observation and testing, thereby exceeding COSC requirements and meeting the standards of the Observatoire Chronométrique de Besançon. The power reserve is 65 hours, the frequency is 28,800 vibrations per hour, and hacking is a given.
Strap
The hand-stitched leather strap has an Epsom leather upper and a Zermatt, Alpine calfskin lining from Tanneries Haas. The width tapers from 20 mm at the case to 16 mm at the buckle. The stainless steel buckle features hand-applied polished bevels and a lacquer-filled embossed logo. Quick-release spring bars.
