The Atelier Wen Perception Millésime Mù sports a purple dial and titanium case, and a potential tantalum ticket
Borna BošnjakThe best way to describe Atelier Wen would be as the complete opposite of the good old “jack of all trades, but master of none”. The Chinese brand has become laser-focused on its guilloché dial production ever since the introduction of the Perception, and the model has seen many iterations since, mainly as part of limited-edition collaborations with the likes of Revolution and seconde/seconde/. For its first non-collaborative LE, the brand has cooked up something special. The Atelier Wen Millésime 睦 (or Mù, as I’ll refer to it going forward) sports a purple dial cased in grade 5 titanium, with a special prize draw that could net the three potential winners something even cooler.
The tantalum tickets
I won’t keep you in suspense, so before we get into the regular limited edition (if there is such a thing), let’s talk about the tantalum tickets. Each purchaser of the titanium Millésime Mù will be entered into the drawing, the prize being three Millésime Mù Perceptions with a tantalum case and bracelet. To find out whether you’ve won, you’ll be presented with a solid, milled tantalum ticket upon opening the box, a callback to Willy Wonka’s famous golden tickets.
While this is all very exciting, three tantalum watches is not very much in the grand scheme of things – but fret not. With the introduction of the Perception Millésime Mù, Atelier Wen is also announcing that it will be the first brand to bring to market a non-limited watch fully cased in tantalum, with a matching bracelet. Given how famously difficult this material is to work with, and that only very few watchmakers ever actually attempted to make an entire case out of the metal, it speaks volumes of Atelier Wen’s dedication to bring high-end materials and finishes to the affordable segment.
The dial
Unlike some of the recent Perception special editions, the Millésime Mù features the same fishscale guilloché pattern that can be found on Atelier Wen’s non-limited offering. Made by Cheng Yucai, the pattern is the result of a hand-made process, with the engraving master working on machines he built himself. The royal purple colour is achieved through a PVD treatment, and was initially not planned to make it into production, merely being fitted to tantalum prototypes shown at a watch fair. As a result of overwhelming popularity, however, they’re making it into a finished product.
The case
Apart from the new dial colour, the biggest point of differentiation will be the titanium case featuring all the V2 improvements from the 904L steel variant. The lugs have been reprofiled compared to the first-ever Perception, making for a more comfortable experience on the wrist. Compared to those steel cases, however, the colour and finish of the titanium is very different. 904L steel is known for its white glow and lustre, but the Perception Millésime Mù flips that, emphasising the vibrance of the dial through the muted tones of titanium.
Measuring in at 40mm at its widest point, the case does quickly taper to around 37mm. Along with the 47mm lug-to-lug and 9.4mm thickness, the Perception Millésime Mù will suit all but the tiniest of wrists. And it’s not just about the pretty dial – this is an integrated bracelet sports watch, after all. Atelier Wen remembered that, giving the Perception 100 metres of water resistance, secured by a screw-down crown.
The bracelet and strap
Though the 904L variants in steel make for a hefty feel one would associate with a luxury watch, I firmly believe the Perception is best-executed in titanium. Composed of hexagonal and H-shaped pieces, the bracelet links all feature polished chamfers, finishing in a well thought-out clasp. Not only does it have an extendable feature that makes the watch easier to put on for those with large hands but smaller wrists, it also has a well-integrated ratcheting system that’s operated via the button that’s actually the brand logo. No faffing around with some underside pusher, wishing you hadn’t clipped your nails the day before.
If the bracelet is not quite your style – though I’m not sure why it wouldn’t be – you should do your best to be one of the first 88 people that orders the Millésime Mù. If you succeed, Atelier Wen will throw in a fitted leather strap as well – a first for the Perception.
The movement
Since its release, the Dandong SL1588A that powers the Perception has been its only question mark, merely due to the fact that it’s not yet had the time to become tried-and-tested. But the folks from Atelier Wen are no spring chickens – they knew this could be a potential drawback, and addressed it from the outset. The main reason for the movement being used in the Perception in the first place is its excellent slimness, allowing the overall watch to sit under that 10mm mark. Atelier Wen quotes accuracy of +/-10 seconds per day with adjustments made in five positions, and “exhaustive testing by the Horological Research Institute of Light Industry” – a large Chinese developer of timekeeping instruments. Atelier Wen is sticking with the decision to not fully display the movement, even though it has been modified with Geneva striping, perlage, and (machine-applied) anglage. As far as specs go, its most impressive is the 3.4mm thickness – for reference, an ETA 2892A2 sits at 3.6mm, and the Miyota 9000 series are all closer to 4mm. It runs at 4Hz, and has a power reserve of 41 hours.
The verdict
Even though the changes from the first-ever Perception may not be perceptible to the naked eye, subsequent iterations – and the Perception V2 especially – are simply better, and they should be. The wearing experience is certainly improved, as is the fit and finish of the bracelet, with a couple of unique touches like the extending clasp blade and micro-adjust system which are great. The Perception launched as an incredible value proposition, priced at just US$2,088. That was a price point that was always going to be difficult to maintain, and it did indeed steadily rise with each limited edition collaboration. The Perception V2 settled in at US$3,288, and the Millésime Mù commands a US$300 premium on top of that. While its initial price point would cement the Perception as one of the best-value watches on the market, its current quality and pricing strategy still do a good enough job to make it a compelling offering. With the added intrigue of the tantalum tickets and non-limited availability during the ordering period, I see the Millésime Mù being as well-received as every iteration of the model thus far.
Atelier Wen Perception Millésime 睦 Mù pricing and availability
The Atelier Wen Perception Millésime 睦 Mù will be available for orders from the 7th of October until the 21st of October, with deliveries expected in May 2025. Price: US$3,588
| Brand | Atelier Wen |
| Model | Perception Millésime 睦 Mù |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 9.4mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Grade 5 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Double-domed sapphire front, sapphire back |
| Dial | Purple hand-guilloché |
| Lug Width | Integrated |
| Bracelet | Grade 5 titanium bracelet, folding clasp with micro-adjustment |
| Movement | Dandong SL1588A, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$3,588 |