Is This Cheap Chinese Watch Worth It?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 เม.ย. 2022
- The last thing you’d think of when it comes to Chinese watches is quality. At least, not high quality. We’ve become used to China shipping cheap, reasonably reliable product for some time now, and we’ve even seen some basic attempts at novel complications like the tourbillon and perpetual calendar-but none executed with any real degree of quality. Atelier Wen wants to change all that.
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Atelier Wen Perception
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I want the Blancpain I bought from you before you told me to pay £1000 more for another different one. I will never buy from you.
When I first saw the dial the first thing that went through my head was "The Chinese are using a Rose Machine?" and sure enough, that's exactly what they're doing. This is just amazing!
Crazy this used to be ~$1800 USD. Now priced at $3k USD. The fact you can get a guilloche dial for this pricepoint tho is still insane. Fortunately was able to get a reservation for the next batch, can't wait to get the salmon dial version!
th-cam.com/video/fMAdR2CjTBA/w-d-xo.html thank me later ;)
It was ok before, not now anymore...at that new price, no thanks
@@fastdays_1agreed, the new price makes it a no.
Price point is insane. Dial looks rough and poorly finished.
For 1800$ I'd love this
Characterful case, beautiful dial structure. Like it a lot. But is it me, or is the dial finish around the indices a bit shabby?
No, not just you! 😁There's a lot of defects on that dial, but the same can't be said of other pictures of it on various sites on Google. I think it must be a pre production model.
You are correct, it's a prototype. They've acknowledged the issue and will hopefully have it addressed in the final product.
It's rough.
The plan chamfer the part of the dial around the indices... Son it will be much cleaner
Not its not you, it looks rubbish!
It's also pressed from the one die, not how the info is presented in this video, as if each one is hand made lol it's Chinese production!
Is it just me, or is there a hair inside the watch in the macro shots at 3:26 ?
I see it!
Seems to be on the glass
Looking at this. I see shades of 1980s Pobedas and ZiMs from the USSR. Case shape, dial texturing, handset, everything. Not that that's a bad thing, as anyone who has owned a Pobeda/ZiM can attest. I'm excited to see where this company goes. Great look as always, Watchfinder!
I thought the same thing, very similar case design to my Pobeda
My
I think most impressive is how Master Chen developed (and patented) his own rose engine to make the guilloche dial just the way he wanted it.
His last name is actually Cheng, but yes. Cheng Yucai is his name.
His rose engine was developed for other work, not for this watch dial FYI.
Not a fan of the salmon/pink dial but the blue and gray actually look really nice. Quite surprising. They would definitely be a conversation piece to someone into watches. The watchfinder presentation is absolutely outstanding as always too!
My wife would choose the pink one - LOL
This salmon Perception is beautiful! The dial, caseback, and case is gorgeous.
It really is... Why do he have to be poor hahaha!
@@johanvandersandt8904 🤣🤣🤣
3:24 IT'S A HAIR! A HAIR!
Yes, I sow it
Fantastic video (as is mostly the case).
This is the first time outside of Grand Seiko and A Lange & Sohne that I've immediately wanted to buy a watch without even looking at it in real life - difference is, I can actually hope to afford/fiscally justify this in the medium term 😅
Thanks for sharing the work of Atelier Wen! Very impressive for the money. Looking forward to seeing where this brand will go!
Hello! ...Do you know how real is the watch prize? ...did you contact the whatsapp to claim it? Regards
The grey dial looks fantastic!
Great video and content. Appreciate the diversity of watch representation. Too bad they are sold out and I has missed out on their past porcelain dial too
The dial is a messy disaster where it meets the text and hour markers.
Thanks, I didn’t know about these. I’ll be saving up my pocket money now for one.
I'm so pleased to see you reviewing the Perception and showing some macro vision. I, like many others, was hovering over the keyboard as the time approached for these to go on sale, and was fortunate to get an order in within a couple of minutes of being available. Looking forward to receiving mine, in blue, towards the end of the year. 👍
Shipping soon!
Thank you for introducing me to the world of Watches🙇🏼
I really hope they have better QC on a the final models because there are way to much details that are imperfect on this one. There is also clearly a hair on the dial wich can bee seen at 3:25 & 4:30. We are talking about a 2.6k watch that should not happen.
I wrote about that too
Interesante combinacion de diseno europeo y chino. Ultradelgado, guilloche a mano, acero 904L. Habria que verlo en vivo pero luce bien en la camara.
Would have liked it a lot more if the dial just read "Wen". The atelier part just makes it sound a bit try hard.
It's because the company founders are french but live in china, atelier = Workshop in french, Wen = culture in Chinese
Another excellent video. Rose engine dial, yes please. A quick look at the website and production is sold out until the end of the year.
It's sold out. You can preorder now. Estimated delivery oct 2022... price £1638,-
looks like some kind of a mix between a nautilus + VC. 222
love the black dial one
The grey one is quite awesome looking even if I'm not of fancy/dress looking watches.
👋 firsthand you continue to do an exceptional job at making these awesome videos about watches and more importantly explaining the origins and purpose behind such exquisite time keeping machines. Even a Seiko seems oh so enticing in your hands and voice that I've grown to appreciate the finer details of watches in general now. Thank you. As an Indian, I would certainly appreciate if you can feature watches from a startup Indian company called BWC (Bangalore Watch Company). They have been at it for sometime now and I believe they deserve an international mention for the effort to ignite passion amongst enthusiasts from my part of the world.
The watch itself seems pedestrian and besides the Indian angle, there are other more interesting microbrands out there. But then again, that's just my personal opinion.
I second that. BWC for the win!
Great perspective...and art is art regardless of where it comes from, as you clearly point out...awesome video sir!
Wouldnt take a Chinese watch if it was for free.
That's your problem then.
Yup, garbage
Incel snob
Amazing piece. Would love to see it in a smaller size.
Trouble is this is Oris money and Oris has it’s own identity and quality throughout the watch. Quite a few finishing flaws on these but hopefully they will keep trying.
TBH I have seen this watch in person and it is a joy to wear. Should you buy it because it is lower in price, of course. The Guilloche dial is the charm about it.
A bit unfair to Chinese watch companies as a whole ... there have been a number of Chinese companies upping the products out of China. Finishing on San Martin and Cronos as well as Lobinni and Seagull, Zelos, Helm, Phoibos etc. are very nice quality ... maybe not up at Grand Seiko or Rolex, A. Lange & Sohn, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin but definitely as good as some other Swiss brands or regular Seiko and brands such as Citizen, Hamilton, Tissot, Longines, Christopher Ward etc. Still nice nonetheless. Many now also now offer Swiss movements. Dare I say brands such as Seagull now also produce movements. Yes copies (often modified) of Swiss movements but how many Swiss companies use the same Swiss movements - ETA & Sellita or offer a modified version of them ... then calling them 'in house movements'.
Where they still fail, for now, is in original designs.
Where they unfairly get hate is offering similar products for much less at lower price points sometimes with better specs than brands like Seiko (and let's be fair the Chinese aren't the only ones doing this). Epitomy of 'if it isn't expensive it isn't good' snobbery in my opinion.
Could these be the first steps of Chinese brands that will become the next Timex, Seiko, Casio, Citizen, Hamilton dare I say the next Rolex and Omega? Perhaps perhaps not, however, we have to remember where many of these desirable Swiss luxury brands started.
Seagulls been making movements for ages
Do you know what other country was known for making cheap knock-offs of designs from abroad? Switzerland.
This is a gorgeous watch. Reminds me of what Anordain is doing in Scotland.
Seriously it looks like my daughters makeup colour pallete !
The case smells Nautilus and the bracelet AP RO without the little links...But on the other hand everybody is copying, so nice watch !
I expect the next series of Atelier games to be of Atelier Wen whose main occupation is a watch-making Alchemist set in a place heavily inspired by West Taiwan or something like that.
I've just tried to buy this watch. Not available here in England until October, also a few hundred pounds more than the price you quote. Plus import duties and taxes, making this a very expensive Chinese watch.
Pre orders sold out in a few hours
The connection between the indices and dial can certainly be improved, would like to see it for the finished product. The indices should be more pronounced to cover the imperfection shown on the side of the dial.
As for the dial, I think there's certain beauty lies within it being imperfect, as the dial maker turns the rose engine the speed and motion will vary thus produce slightly difference for each dial. This is what you get for having it done manually. Its got a lot of charm and Atelier Wen has come a long way to create something quite Interesting with a lot of story behind it.
Dang dong movement, that's a hell of a name...makes you want to own one 😂
Very pretty, but a movement with a ghost position and non-hacking? I await the future.
Belle vidéo , pourrions-nous avoir les sous titres en français 🙏🙏🙏
Surely the logo on the dial could be applied square? For the price and all...
The dial finishing is very rough...
Does Tom prefer the blue one here too?
wonderful watches!
3:27 there's a HAIR incrusted IN THE DIAL. Incredible quality!
Imagine owning it and finding that 😂 I’d be horrified and wouldn’t be able to unsee it
Finally a watch that I can afford! Better buy one before these cost thousands too... Thankfully they didn't spoil this watch with a date complication.
They almost did (the first drawing of the watch had a date windows at t7 o'clock ;)
@@TheDoberman972 , 7 o'clock... classy! :D
@@mrgadget1485 I was a bold and weird one, they couldn't make it work and align it properly, and I'm glad
The world has changed a lot since the Monty Python sketch with this:
“I’ll have the watch ready for you at midnight! The watch. The WATCH. The Chinese WATCH…”
Seeing the dial under these macro shots killed this watch for me.
But it's only 1500 pounds. I wouldn't expect the best, but this is still amazing.
Keep in mind that this is also a prototype. The finished watch should have better macro performance.
@@isukhelppls9434 Fair, and I'm impressed by what they can deliver at that price point, but they are explicitly saying they are trying to step outside of the perception of "this is a surprisingly good cheap Chinese watch." I want them to succeed. As a happy owner of both a Ming and a Kurono, I'd love to see this brand deliver something that really rivals the quality of top tier European brands, even if they have to raise these prices considerably to do it. I really like where they are starting. This is a good looking watch, from a distance.
Me too. If you want to compete the Swiss at a price point of Longines and Oris, you execution has to be in that league and putting ‘artisan’ in front of something doesn’t cut it in this day and age….regardless of price.
And this isn’t cheap.
@@isukhelppls9434 That only sounds good until you see what the Chinese are capable of delivering for £500 in the form of fakes. For £1500 from an unknown Chinese brand I would need better execution and details. No bubbles in the dial finish and less hair on the dial is a must for success.
I wanted to get one and they are already sold out
While I wouldn't personally want one (I'm not a fan of the case, although the bracelet - with that Vacheron 222-esque look - is attractive), I honestly don't understand why China hasn't succeeded breaking into the luxury market earlier. There are plenty of wealthy Chinese who love luxury brands, especially watches, and China has the resources to get the materials it needs (gold, platinum, quality steel and titanium), as well as the ability to produce the machinery needed and get experts in from around the globe to train its workforce (hell, Grand Seiko travelled to Switzerland to learn from Phillipe Dufour, so why not pay someone like recently retired Christian Klings a small fortune to travel to China and impart his knowledge?). Switzerland got its start in the watchmaking industry by undercutting the prices of British and French watchmakers, so I wouldn't bet against China doing the same in the future.
I agree Neil, but for me the key phrase from you is "in the future "... They have a long way to go.
Chinese have to get rid of closed mindset that stops them from delivering acceptable quality and communication
A big problem with that idea, is pointed out in the name of this watch... perception. Even if they do make a quality watch, the words, "Made In China", are instantly perceived in a negative light. So they spend all that time and money setting up a quality watchmaker and then can't sell $5,000-20,000 watches because nobody wants to wear a Made in China watch and spend that kind of money.
@@BabyJesus66 I agree, it's about perception. But once upon a time, the words "made in Japan" were seen as a byword for cheap goods, but now it's seen as a mark of quality. With effort and with visionaries like Ciga, it's possible that Chinese watchmaking could eventually overcome the negative connotations associated with the words "made in China".
@@akeyasa2228 most likely because over the past 40 or so years, many Western countries have outsourced their manufacturing to China and the goods they produce have become synonymous with cheap items designed to a budget, and to be easily replaced rather than repaired - pretty much the exact opposite of haute horology. To get past that is going to be the hard part for Chinese companies seeking to take on the Swiss, but Japan managed it and if they put their minds to it, maybe the Chinese can too.
Very impressive indeed. Yes I would buy one and wear it a lot
Japan was once a mediocre spin-off producer, now they're at the top of the electronics, car and also watch industry. With China only still on the rise, I'm excited about what they will be bringing into the watch world in the future.
"spin-off producer" excuse me? when exactly? 50, 60 70, 80, 90s?? when???
@@NicolasSilvaVasault When I was a little kid, back in the 50's, Japanese toys (my naturally occurring interest at that age) were mostly cast pot metal or stamped sheet metal with Tab A, Slot B, type construction, which followed the American market of 30 years earlier. You'll see such methods at antique auctions. The cast cars were approx 64th scale like today's matchbox, with 2 tires pressed on a wire which was pushed into twin U shaped receptacles under the nose and another, under the tail. No interiors, one color paint, enamel, not much gloss. 19 cents each, in a pile on a slot on the Woolsworth shelf. They were NOT finely made. Over time, Japan got better.
Japanese musical instruments went through a metamorphosis of quality through the 50s and 60s. MIJ (made in japan) drums, amps guitars, etc, sold for MUCH less than American made. Pearl started out building private label drums for export to the USA. Sears sold cheap flimsy sets and add-ons through it's catalogue. Now Pearl and other Japanese makers are world class. But it took many decades.
@@markfurman4386 i call it fucking bullshit, ibanez is a 50s brand and redefined the guitar world, so did seiko with their watches (130 years old brand), i can mention a shit ton of examples if i had to, but this whole statement is pure fucking bullshit i won't keep with this
Wow, you really don’t want to pull out the loupe on that one.
Can't tell properly but looks like there is a hair stuck in the dial @ 03:26
Waiting for mine to arrive in October
they are getting better and better
make the indices slots on the face shorter by 4-6mm and file the back out underneath so they slot together, be a sweet way to hold the face on one plane and good for quality numbers as your only reworking the back of the dial, can be marked on the back ect, less need for absolute accuracy. Can also be custom final fit if they need to be. Would look great the indices as if going into water on the dial, the stainless and the ceramic coming together.
Could you please explain in simpler words (I'm not a native english speaker) what you mean by that. I'm trying to find a solution to make the transition between the indices and dial smother and share it with the owner
@@TheDoberman972 yes, of coarse, if you tell them it was my idea. Ha
So follow this link th-cam.com/video/D4I5BtCiZxE/w-d-xo.html to a short clip in the video of the maker filing the indices slot after cutting it I'd guess.
If he cut the indices slot length shorter by 3-4 mm and filed the non patterned side of the slot at an angle, to match the slope of the indices so the indices can slot underneath it flush along its length.
That way the patterned face will become flush with the level of the indices and the transition between the 2 would be more subtle and look great.
Its difficult to explain without a pen and paper to draw it, but i can send a pic or something to email?
@@TheDoberman972 what is your language please, maybe I can translate for you?
@@TheDoberman972 how do I get in touch with them plz?
@@rhythm242able I cannot share the link but if you go on their website at the end of the update 6 : Atelier Wen Perception: Update #6 - Pre-Orders Details, you will find a whatsapp group link
as long as they stay crap - everything is fine…😏
Why do you want Chinese watchmaking to be bad? What end goal could there possibly be, beyond jingoism and/or racism?
@@jakekaywell5972 man, get some humor…
Tell me about the movement ...
Really cool piece !
the longer the video took the more enthusiastic I became. Until I heard the price...
I would like to hear your take on sinn watches I'm really thinking of buying one.not sure if you have already covered this brand !
Me too.
A very good German watch company.
Hi David, Sinn make fine watches that are really tough. They use third party movements, mostly from Sellita. I have a U50 and it's comfortable to wear and has chronometer level accuracy from its SW300.1 in Top. Try to get a candid opinion from the local service agent (rather than sales team). Lots of reviewers have covered the brand.
@@robertlock6041 thank you
Oh yes! I was waiting to hear if the dial was cut with CNC or ... a rose engine? I see my hopes were not dashed. Nice one, Mr. Two Hands
You think each one is cut by hand?!
@@rhythm242able yes. Rose engines are manual.
@@alanmckinnon6791 yes to make the brass die. You clearly don't understand the process.
@@alanmckinnon6791 they cut each dial by hand? Please.
@@rhythm242able what on earth are you talking about? The video clearly shows an old dude working with a rose engine and the narrator clearly says the dial is guillotine and takes about one artisan. The dial pattern is cut by hand. The is how the guilloche process works
let's not forget the Vacheron bracelet.
They are over $3k now.
every watch's dial is handcrafetd ?? I don't know but i don't like it at all for that price and the dial is rare
Am a fan of Chinese watches, not wot I’m looking for but I appreciate wot is beautiful and affordable, good work sir 🤙🏻
On the contrary I think it'd be a doddle for a Chinese brand to make a mark on the industry.
All it needs is a Parnis or similar to tweak the designs of the ones using less obvious cases so they no longer resemble other watches.
It'd be so easy to take their DJ clone for example and then change the dial, markers & hands and add a nice leather strap.
Not saying they couldn't be more ambitious as well of course.
This dial belongs on a more formal watch than a Royal Oak clone - wish the bits around the dial/movement were different...
Love my Seagull 1963. Great, great piece that my wife wears all the time.
That case is identical to the Seikonaut
Can you guys train this hand some other movements?
where can i buy this..?
Web site
Amazing watch. Love it.
I think is beautiful!. However, as usual.. during these strange times the watch is "out of stock" or "unavailable"
Nice watch and good video.
The roughest guilloche dial I've ever seen. No thanks.
All photos of this watch on various watch sites do not have the defects found in this vlog. I think this is a preproduction model purely for reviewing. They should not have released this watch for review as many are catching the aberrations, and assuming they are all going to be finished like this, which I doubt is the case.
@@TOM-C. seems stupid to send out a trashed pre-production sample to watch reviewers, with hundreds of thousands of viewers, that use macro lenses that will magnify any flaws. They should have sent one in par with final production quality.
@@BabyJesus66 Totally agree, big mistake as most aren't going to look elsewhere to see if the production watches look better, and they do, no flaws I could see compared to this example. Not a great decision, but on the other hand they are sold out, so???🤷♂
Beautiful design, but the finish is far from 2000$ levels. I would still just get a Tissot PRX instead.
Tissot hit all the right notes with Prx.
PRX is CNC. Not hand made Rose machine.
@@greaterbayareahero1401 yes but the finishing is poor. So it doesn’t justify the price. There are excellent guilloche finished watches but they are very expensive. I’d rather have cheap and excellent CNC than expensive but not great hand made watch if that makes any sense.
@@gasmaskdude2687 PRX is not much better and machine made with no human intervention whatsoever. It's a cookie cutter machine...
@@greaterbayareahero1401 yeah but PRX’s price with 80hr power reserve is unbeatable.
My first proper watch was a Phoibos Wavemaster, and for the price, neither Japan, nor Switzerland, could touch it. I’ll happily buy a proudly Chinese watch as much as a proudly British, proudly Australian, or proudly Singaporean watch, so long as it’s the right watch, at the right price.
Love the watch - wish it had a date window :(
I’ve paid for a watch in their Perception series, drop them 3 emails to get an update on the production… but to-date I have received 0 response. Is anyone else having the same issue? I can’t help but to think that there is something wrong with these guys.
They have a Whatsapp group chat if you need to reach out to them.
For the price, this watch is gorgeous. I want it very much.
this is an interesting video.... i think it bears considering that just because something is made in china it doesn't mean its rubbish. As an example China is providing the world with some of the best earphones (IEMS) from a value for money perspective, at all budgets, in the world. Seriously... if you haven't looked into Chinese IEMS, they are insane versus some of their European and US colleagues.
They're already sold out for the rest of the year.
I am on the wait-list for this, but after seeing these zoomed in shots I'm ready to skip this one.
All I can see in this watch is the vacheron Constantin 222 bracelet knock off 😆
This is a direct challenger to MING they have similar dials at £1500
Brew watches …specially the metric 🚀😁thank You very much ☕️
Awesome watch. Love that pink dial. Looking forward to what kind of designs and styles they can create. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
is that movement really called, dang-dong ? or did i misshear that :DD
That's what she said
2:42 that stud cover and holder :/
It's understandable in an R35 but at this price...
What a gorgeous watch! Good to know there's a Chinese ultra-thin movement out there that should be appearing in more watches too :)
Nicely designed but there are many obvious finishing flaws on the hands/dials etc.
I wonder if the Chinese 🇨🇳replica industry will make a copy of this🤔?
Yes
AP+PF case with VC bracelet
Can you do an episode about wise watches
The Chinese are a proud and ancient civilisation and people who have always been capable of remarkable engineering and design. I wish more watchmakers from China tapped into that heritage and that pride like Atelier Wen has.
If you’re looking for watch review recommendations might I suggest the AL&S Odysseus? It gets no love but I find it very appealing and would love a closer look!
There is a lot to like there but the quality isn’t their, even their website is low resolution and the videos of their watches whips the watch across the screen at such a pace you can’t focus on it. I’m pretty sure we all know that china can make things off very high quality when they choose to.
I’d love to see one in the flesh to see how they really look.