Media Permit No: 0953878
Create
Create
News

Atelier Wen and Massena LAB unveil a new cross-cultural masterpiece

• The Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò is a collaboration between the Chinese Atelier Wen and New York based Massena LAB. • Both the White and Rose Gold dial versions feature hand tremblage and hand-engraved Arabic and Chinese numerals. • Their case and bracelet are made from tantalum. • A customised Girard-Perregaux calibre GP03300 drives the hours, minutes, and seconds. • The White Gold dial version is limited to 10 pieces and reserved for established clients of either brand. The Rose Gold dial version is limited to 40 pieces and open to the public.
Kunaal Khemka
August 26, 2026
0Points
0
Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò.

What is the new Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò?

It is a collaboration between Atelier Wen, an independent watch brand that celebrates “Chinese craftsmanship and culture” with a Sino-French identity, and Massena LAB, a New York based creative horological studio “that designs, develops, and produces timepieces, often in collaboration with respected watchmakers from around the world.”

“The collaboration takes the name ‘Shuò,’ from the Chinese character 烁, which can be translated as ‘sparkling,’ ‘glittering,’ or ‘radiant,’ poetically evoking the shimmering, reflective qualities of hand tremblage on its dial. The technique behind this subtle finishing, however, is anything but straightforward.”

Atelier Wen was founded by Robin Tallendier and Wilfried Buiron in 2017. Massena LAB was founded by William Massena, a globally recognised horological expert and watch collector, in 2018.

Also Read: Massena LAB and Raúl Pagès unveil the new TZ30

What are both versions dial features?

Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò.
Image: White Gold version. Header image is the Rose Gold version. The dials are created by Coralie Mercier for GT Cadrans. She is a hand engraving specialist. The technique involves pushing a “graver across the 18k gold surface while continuously oscillating the dial, slowly transforming its texture into thousands of tiny, irregular facets. A time-consuming and unforgiving process, a single mistake can ruin an entire dial.” Both the Arabic and Chinese numerals are blue filled, matching the hour, minute and second hands. The outer ring is finished with hand tremblage, featuring “a finely engraved huiwen border, a classic Chinese decorative motif named for its resemblance to the Chinese character 回.”

The base dial plate is made from solid 18K white gold and finished with hand tremblage, a rare and extremely demanding decorative craft. The hour sector is placed above the base dial plate. Radially brushed, it is made from either white gold (White Gold version) or rose gold (Rose Gold version). The numerals are arranged in a California-dial format, with the Massena LAB hand-engraved custom serif Arabic numerals on the upper portion of the hour sector (10 – 2) and the Atelier Wen hand-calligraphed Chinese numerals on the lower portion (4 – 8).

The blued and rhodium-plated leaf-shaped hour and minute hands feature a tri-planed design. The middle portion highlights a frosted finish whereas the two concave side planes display a highly polished finish. The minute and second hand are bent by hand near their tips.

What are their case and bracelet features?

Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò.
Image: Tantalum “is prized not just for its inky blue undertones but instead for its density, weight, anti-corrosive properties.” It is extremely difficult to work with and hard to finish, as aspect that is further amplified by the curved architecture of the bracelet and case “which is inspired by Chinese architectural forms and features almost no flat planes whatsoever in its construction.” The case features a concave bezel and a ridged midcase. The bracelet features curved external and middle links; the former sports strong vertical brushing, and the latter are mirror-polished. The chamfers feature a concave mirror-polish. The screw-down crown is made from solid rose gold in the Rose Gold version and tantalum in the White Gold version.

Both versions’ case is made from 99.9% tantalum with a mix of concave and convex surfaces, measuring 40 mm (diameter) * 10.2 mm (thickness, including sapphire crystal). Lug-to-lug distance is 45 mm. Dial side features a double domed sapphire crystal with five layers of anti-reflective coating. Caseback features a sapphire crystal five layers of anti-reflective coating. Water resistant up to 10 ATM or approximately 100 metres.

The bracelet is made from 99.9% tantalum. It features a “on-the-fly-micro-adjustment system” that is adjustable to 4 positions (patent-pending). In addition, it features a telescopic deployant blade and a quick release system.

Is it powered by a customised Girard-Perregaux calibre?

Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò.
Image: The “curved, sweeping movement architecture intentionally designed to mimic the lines of the case and bracelet while also referencing motifs of wind and water found in historical Chinese paintings.” Movement finishing includes ruthenium-plated plates and bridges that are “finished with dramatic anglage, sharp exterior angles, and laser-etched waved côtes that emanate radially from the movement’s centre, complemented by black-polished screws and a similarly wind-inspired rotor, plated in 5N rose gold.” Notice the design of the screws that affix the caseback to the main case.

Yes. It is powered by a customised Girard-Perregaux calibre GP03300, an automatic movement that drives the hours, minutes and stop or hacking seconds. It comprises 27 jewels, beats at a modern frequency of 4 Hz or 28,800 vph and delivers a power reserve of approximately 48 hours.

What do we think?

During Dubai Watch Week in November last year, William Massena showed me his namesake brand’s Old Soul, a collaboration with renowned watchmaker Vianney Halter. Driven by an almost 100-year-old NOS (new old stock) Minerva movement, it was one of the most beautiful watches I had laid my hands on. And I have experienced my share of amazing watches across the mainstream, independent and microbrand spectrum. The Old Soul reflects William’s eclectic taste in watches and his obsession for details.

Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò.
Image: “Since founding Massena LAB, we’ve never had the opportunity to work with a Chinese watchmaker. In Atelier Wen, we found a like-minded partner who was just as willing to experiment in our “lab” as we could have hoped. With assistance from GT Cadrans and engraver Coralie Mercier, we’ve married traditional, Swiss dial finishing techniques with classic Chinese design influences from Atelier Wen, all while creating a new interpretation of the California dial. On a personal note, I am especially excited to offer our collectors a Massena LAB watch in tantalum, one of my favourite metals (and one with an integrated bracelet at that), a double-first for Massena LAB.” – William Massena.

The Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò reflects the same eclectic taste along with thoughtful and obsessive details. Be it the dial, case, integrated bracelet and the movement, nothing has been left out. Its execution is so complete that it could be a reference or study for other brands to follow suit.

It is a culmination of a Chinese brand with a Sino-French identity, a New York based creative horological studio helmed by an Austrian (William hails from Austria), and a complex dial and renowned movement both crafted in Switzerland. A genuine cross-cultural statement, the Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò is an offbeat watch that will delight collectors seeking authenticity, craftsmanship and rarity. 

Additional Details

Name: Atelier Wen x Massena LAB Inflection Shuò

White Gold dial: Limited to 10 pieces and reserved for established clients of either brand

Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 33,800 (excluding taxes)

Rose Gold dial: Limited to 40 pieces and open to the public

Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 33,800 (excluding taxes)

Guarantee: 5-Years

Please click here for the Massena LAB website and here for the Atelier Wen website.

Massena LAB will be exhibiting at the seventh edition of Geneve Watch Days, being held during 2nd–6th September 2026. Please click here to learn more.

Media Permit No: 0953878
© 2026 The Cornea Impression
Media Permit No: 0953878
© 2026 The Cornea Impression