I have Atelier Wen’s first watch which was using the Dandong Peacock SL-3006. So far no problem to report.

The SL-1 used as the base caliber for the SL-1588 in Perception appears pretty new so not sure there is much feedback around.

However having followed both projects I know the Atelier Wen team pays a lot of attention to details, so expect the movement to be solid.

 

Great to hear from a someone with first-hand experience. The Perception is offered at a price point I will hope the movement is not expected to be a disposable one. Any idea of what it compares to? ETA? SW? Miyota? Seiko?

 

Not much technical information here but there is a little more information that you listed.

take the article with a pinch of salt, as it was written by the brand

Atelier Wen's Perception Celebrates The Extraordinary Guilloché Watch Dials Of Master Cheng | aBlogtoWatch

Sponsored post presented on aBlogtoWatch for advertiser Stroll through the ancient stonework and cultivated Chinese gardens that are home to China’s only master guilloché craftsman and, eventually, you’ll reach a cave at the far end of the grounds. Step inside, and beneath the stone walls and...

www.ablogtowatch.com

 

"Dandong" is the provincial capital city of Liaoning Province, where Liaoning Watch Factory/Peacock Watch Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. is located. Like Tianjin Watch Factory is now known as "Sea-Gull", Liaoning WF became "Peacock".

Here is a link to the SL1 movements. Unfortunately, the SL-1588 is not listed.

SL1系列 薄型机芯_机芯_孔雀表业（集团）有限公司 | 机械表 | 机芯

SL1系列 薄型机芯-孔雀表业（集团）有限公司 | 机械表 | 机芯

www.peacockwatch.com

 

Thank you. I'm going to take a stab and guess it is the SL-1258, as across the listed SL-1XXX line, the SL-1258_孔雀表业（集团）有限公司 | 机械表 | 机芯 SL-1258 is the closest in functions, size and has 32jewels

SL1588 on LEFT, SL1258 on RIGHT

 

All I can say is that it does not appear to be a clone movement and it was obviously chosen by Atelier Wen for its thinness, which is achieved by a single plane architecture (e.g. Miyota 9-series) rather than just making everything thinner (e.g. ETA 2892).

—edit—

Looking closer I think the design is substantially derived from the Miyota 9-series.

 

Thank you for your contributions, from what I am reading the SL1 was the first movement Peacock got to produce in the 60s, based on the 1st Moscow Watch Factory 2408 "Kirovskie", as they probably started with Russian tooling. SL-1588 must be an automatic version. I have no personal experience with the movement or Peacock movements-powered watches. I hope they are durable and accurate.

 

This new SL1 is not related in any way to the old SL1. As this new movement has the auto-winding fully integrated, it is not derived from a manual winding movement.

 

I can speak this far: Robin and Wilfried of Atelier Wen have quite detailed knowledge of the overall Chinese industry, and I think it says something that they kept with Peaock for their second offering. I'd expect they had any number of options. From my own conversations with people in the industry in China, Peacock is respected, and they've attracted some top domestic talent.

I can't speak to this particular movement, but I own the Hao and it's been flawless (although I admit my watches don't lead a hard life).

 

I found this review of a Peacock SL300 and I hope things have change on the manufacturing process over the last almost 10 years since this was published:

https://watchguy.co.uk/comparison-sea-gull-st2130-eta-2824-2-peacock-sl3000/

Anyways, not planning on getting that level of magnification on a watch but just concerned about having mechanical issues down the road on them.

To the current owners of AW watches, where do you plan to service them eventually?

 

I found this review of a Peacock SL300 and I hope things have change on the manufacturing process over the last almost 10 years since this was published:

https://watchguy.co.uk/comparison-sea-gull-st2130-eta-2824-2-peacock-sl3000/

Anyways, not planning on getting that level of magnification on a watch but just concerned about having mechanical issues down the road on them.

To the current owners of AW watches, where do you plan to service them eventually?

We do service our watches in-house

Return rate for Porcelain Odyssey was extremely low; out of the 570 watches we had made, less than 20 had to go through after-sales.

We're strict with our movement standards and what Dandong supplies us is not the regular catalogue calibers. They leave the manufacture at +/-10s/d (when their usual standard is +25/-15s/d) and have extra modifications done solely for us (i.e. no ghost position, longer power reserve, slightly different profile, etc.).

We then adjust the movements to 5 positions.

Here is a macro picture (taken with a microscope) of an engraving of Perception movement

 

Robin, I love what you're doing! I am so pleased with your progress!

 

Thank you so much, Ron!

 

@Fandegrue
I don't want to hijack this thread, but will you all ever do re-release of the Odyessy Hao or Ji?

 

@Fandegrue
I don't want to hijack this thread, but will you all ever do re-release of the Odyessy Hao or Ji?

Unfortunately no. We introduced Porcelain Odyssey as a limited edition series and hence we cannot go back on our word. That being said, I hope we'll be able to introduce a new dressy series in 2024

That is great to hear! You are going above and beyond to establish the prestige of your brand! Wishing you success! It is well deserved. Thanks for interacting with us.

Thank you very much for the kind words - sincerely appreciated

One thing I'd like to make clear, and this thread is as good as any to make it. Although I was the first non-Chinese person provided any sort of membership in the CHA, my membership is honorary. I'm very proud of it, but I also understand a difference.

Robin is the first non-Chinese person provided a full non-honorary membership.

IIRC his membership also notes he is considered an "Implementation Expert" and his creativity, entrepreneurial prowess and successful efforts to use the best of the skills a number of factories and creative people in China certainly show that as not only deserved, but properly earned.

Thank you very much, Ron, for the super kind message, but none of this would have ever been possible without you. And I still consider you the foremost non-Chinese expert on Chinese horology I am just a student

 

One thing I'd like to make clear, and this thread is as good as any to make it. Although I was the first non-Chinese person provided any sort of membership in the CHA, my membership is honorary. I'm very proud of it, but I also understand a difference.

Robin is the first non-Chinese person provided a full non-honorary membership.

IIRC his membership also notes he is considered an "Implementation Expert" and his creativity, entrepreneurial prowess and successful efforts to use the best of the skills a number of factories and creative people in China certainly show that as not only deserved, but properly earned.

 

And the whole package turned out brilliantly. And my new Perception is running at about 1 second slow over the first week I've had it.

 

And the whole package turned out brilliantly. And my new Perception is running at about 1 second slow over the first week I've had it.

View attachment 17189564

Nice! FYI, there’s also another thread specifically on the Perception.

 

If this is an SL1588…

…then it may be based on the Soprod A10 (the movement most frequently referred to as “in-house” by brands trying to pull the wool over buyers’ eyes)…

…which in turn is based on a Seiko 4L/6L.

In recent models, it appears that the balance cock is coming from the opposite direction though, plus it has 32 jewels which is way more that the A10 can accommodate. So it’s probably something different.

Based on the Pacock watch website, this is an SL-1701 which is clearly a Soprod clone.

 

It's been a while since this thread was last update so I thought I'd share this with the group.

Atelier Wen presents Inside the Atelier: Cheng Yucai, the Guillocheur

In this intimate documentary short, follow our founders Robin and Wilfried, as they travel to Xinmi, getting to know the ins and outs of Master Cheng Yuca's atelier and the stories of the people within it.

atelierwen.com

Was kind of hoping to get my Perception before CNY but something went wrong with my shipping address on their system somehow...so I'm still waiting. 😑

 

To anyone who's interested and couldn't find more info on the movement.

The SL1588A: A high-end automatic movement, unabashedly Chinese

Peer behind the mask of our stone lion and discover the SL1588A; an extra-thin automatic calibre that is proudly made in China.

atelierwen.com

BTW, mine arrived on April 24 so it's been with me for 3 weeks now. Very happy with it!

 

BTW even though I wouldn't go as far to say it's a "high-end" movement that rivals the best in terms of accuracy/precision, it's decent enough.

 

I have run mine through its paces on a timegrapher and it’s a consistent as any Rolex I own. It also works well pushing a Costco cart.

 

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