4 Chinese luxury watchmakers celebrating local craftsmanship: from Atelier Wen and Qin Gan to Celadon HH and LYH, horologists are redefining wristwear by turning to heritage and cultural influences

STORYJoshua Hendren

Jul 11 , 2023

Chinese haute horology is back in trend for 2023, with leading watchmakers like LYH Watch, Atelier Wen, Qin Gan and Celadon Haute Horlogerie paving the way. Photos: Handout

Timepieces

Chinese horology is a leading trend in the world of timepieces for 2023, with the country’s finest watchmakers turning to heritage, art forms and cultural crafts for inspiration

French watchmaking duo Wilfried Buiron and Robin Tallendier founded Atelier Wen after they met in Beijing for the first time, while Benjamin Chee runs Celadon HH, Maison Celadon and Benjamin Chee HH

Chinese horology is back in the spotlight for 2023.

However, the country’s finest watchmakers have been redefining 21st-century wristwear on a global scale for years.

Atelier Wen is an independent watch brand that celebrates Chinese horology and craftsmanship. Photo: Handout

In a sea of sameness, Chinese watchmakers are pushing the envelope of timekeeping by designing unique creations that defy the conventional. They’re returning to their heritage, cultural art forms and ancient crafts in order to produce works of wonder that flaunt both character and exceptional technical savoir faire.

We spotlight four of China’s most impressive watchmakers, from the newly established to those long coveted by collectors, spanning rising microbrand Atelier Wen to the horological empire of Benjamin Chee.

1. Atelier Wen

Atelier Wen combines French and Chinese craftsmanship in watchmaking. Photo: Handout

With the launch of Atelier Wen, French watchmaking duo Wilfried Buiron and Robin Tallendier sought to change perceptions about Chinese watchmaking. “Despite the country’s extensive cultural depth, a modern sense of Chinese style is hard to lay a finger on,” says Tallendier, who met his fellow co-founder while studying for a master's degree in Beijing.

“This means there’s the creative freedom of a partially blank canvas upon which we can structure a distinct and exciting design language for our brand, while holding fast to the tenets and foundations of Chinese culture.”

Atelier Wen was founded by French watchmaking duo Wilfried Buiron and Robin Tallendier. handout

Based in Hong Kong, Atelier Wen debuted with a series of Porcelain Odyssey watches in 2018 to immediate acclaim. Since then, the microbrand has expanded with the Perception collection, featuring sold-out collaborations with watchmaking platforms Wristcheck and Revolution.