Atelier Wen Inflection
There are watches that are ambitious. And then there are watches that are audacious. The Inflection belongs to the latter category. It is not an iteration of an existing concept; it is Atelier Wen's first watch to compete uncompromisingly with the best that haute horlogerie has to offer.
Tantalum: a metal almost never used
The case and every single link of the Inflection bracelet are made of 99.9% pure tantalum. Tantalum is a transition metal with a characteristic dark bluish-grey tone, exceptional resistance to corrosion and chemicals, and nearly hypoallergenic properties. It is denser than steel, significantly rarer, and incomparably more difficult to machine. It is extremely rarely used in watchmaking.
The Inflection's design further complicates this machinability on purpose. Neither the case nor the bracelet has a single flat surface, only smooth transitions of convex and concave curves. These curves are a direct reference to the Chinese philosophical concept of yin and yang, complementary opposites whose meeting creates a harmonious whole. The combination of strong vertical brushing, frosted surfaces, and concave mirror-polished chamfers captures and amplifies the natural luster of the material in a way that cannot be achieved with other metals.
Dial: Grand Feu Enamel by Kong Lingjun
All three Inflection variants feature Grand Feu enamel dials from Kong Lingjun's workshop in Beijing, China's leading watch dial enameller. Each dial undergoes repeated firings in a kiln at temperatures of 750 to 850 °C, and the rejection rate is high. The result is a surface with a depth and luster that no lacquer or resin finish can replicate.
The dial base is made of a sheet of sterling silver 925. The hour markers are the work of designer Lee Yuen-Rapati, inspired by the morphology of Chinese bamboo calligraphy.
The 幽 Yōu variant is limited to 30 pieces. Hand-hammered silver under clear enamel creates a transition from pale green in the center to deep emerald at the periphery. A tonal gradient that is technically the most challenging of all three variants. The 墨 Mò variant features an ink-black enamel, whose perfect surface level required repeated polishing. The 渊 Yuān variant, midnight blue, dramatically changes tone depending on the angle of incident light.
Movement: Girard-Perregaux GP03300
The Inflection is the first Atelier Wen model to feature a movement from the Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture Girard-Perregaux, one of the oldest continuously operating manufactures. The GP03300 caliber has been extensively customized and decorated for the Inflection.
The bridges are shaped into fluid curves that echo visual motifs of wind from historical Chinese painting, and were designed by Alfred Chan together with Sidoine Lescauville and the Girard-Perregaux technical team. The bridge surface is coated with ruthenium and decorated with distinctive anglage, sharp external chamfers, and laser-engraved wavy Côtes de Genève radiating from the center of the movement train. The screws are black polished, the wind-inspired rotor features a 5N rose gold coating. The movement has a power reserve of 48 hours, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and a stop-seconds function.
Case and Bracelet
Diameter 40 mm, lug-to-lug length 45 mm, thickness 10.2 mm. Screw-down crown, water resistance 100 m. Both front and back crystals are double-domed box-dome sapphire with 5 layers of anti-reflective coating. The case back is fully transparent.
The bracelet, made of the same tantalum, tapers from 22 mm at the case to 18 mm at the clasp. The outer links feature vertical brushing, the central links are mirror polished, and the chamfers are concavely polished. The clasp features a patented on-the-fly micro-adjustment in four positions and a telescopic deployant blade mechanism. Quick-release spring bars. An integrated sailcloth strap with an FKM rubber backing and a tantalum folding clasp is optionally available.
Availability
The annual production capacity is 100 pieces across all three variants. Allocation is based on an internally reviewed application to ensure even distribution. Payment is divided into two parts: a 50% deposit upon allocation and a 50% balance upon shipment.
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