1776 Atelier Pays Tribute to American Heritage With the Liberty 250

Designed in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, the Liberty 250 showcases exceptional decorative craftsmanship while honoring the legacy of American watchmaking through an elegant and distinctly patriotic timepiece. Visit 1776atelier.com for more information.

The revival of watchmaking in the United States is genuine. However, it is no longer akin to the past, when American watches were manufactured in substantial volumes on an industrial scale. Ought we should express dissatisfaction? Certainly not. Due to figures like RGM (a veteran among others), J.N. Shapiro, and Keaton Myrick, we are observing the emergence of a vibrant American independent watchmaking community. In discussions on independence, it is essential to highlight 1776 Atelier. A significant occasion, as the independent American watchmaking firm located in Texas and Ohio has unveiled the Liberty 250, a limited edition of 25 gold watches commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Founded in 1776 by Jason Lu and Zach Smith, this nascent business, located in Texas, is among a select group of companies endeavoring to revitalize the American watch industry. Lu commenced his work in a different domain; nonetheless, he is a self-taught horologist who initially focused on restoring pocket watches and was subsequently coached by Donat Kornagel of DK Precision and Philippe Narbel. Smith is an independent watchmaker and precision machinist, trained by WOSTEP, located in Ohio. The partnership behind 1776 Atelier aspires to produce high-end, meticulously crafted watches in the USA, in limited quantities, emphasizing traditional craftsmanship, in-house movement production, transparent sourcing, and hand finishing, according to the brand's assertion.

The Liberty 250 watch, as inferred from its name and brand, commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States. However, do not anticipate prominent Stars and Stripes motifs or red-and-blue embellishments. The Liberty 250 watch is classical, intricately hand-decorated, and more understated than anticipated, given the overarching theme. The timepiece is encased in an 18k rose gold case produced by RP Uhrgehäuse in Germany according to 1776 Atelier requirements, with a diameter of 41mm. The case is polished on the top, brushed on the sides, has a concave bezel, sapphire crystals on both sides, and is water-resistant up to 50 meters. However, that is not the intriguing aspect of the narrative in this context.

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The significance is in the movement and the perspective through the front sapphire, facilitated by the absence of a traditional dial, which allows the movement to fully articulate itself. The movement's construction is fundamentally derived from the gear train and calculations of a Unitas 6498 pocket watch calibre, similar to numerous other independent watchmakers. It transcends mere outsourcing of a movement and its transformation. 1776 Atelier asserts that over 90% of the movement is produced internally, encompassing the main plate, bridges, wheels, screws, balancing, and regulating elements. The principal movement components are fabricated from American-sourced brass, which is ground to a flat surface with refurbished vintage machinery prior to machining.

Numerous enhancements have been implemented on the original 6498 base, including the substitution of the standard Etachron system with a free-sprung balance and the incorporation of four screws recessed into the balance rim. It continues to pulsate at a measured rate of 18,000 vibrations per hour. Subsequently, the exquisite aspect of the narrative unfolds: ornamentation, which, akin to the remainder, is executed on American territory. Finishing encompasses hand anglage, black polishing, solarisation grinding, hand engraving, thermal coloring, and hand-finished steelwork. The openworked construction of the movement enabled the creation of 224 internal angles, necessitating more than 200 hours of manual workmanship. The reverse side of the movement is elaborately adorned with Geneva stripes, media-blasted surfaces, and anglage. Moreover, the dial element, characterized by a layered structure with a scalloped shape, encompasses 62 internal angles. Time is indicated by a pair of handcrafted two-piece hands, which are formed, fitted, polished, riveted, and thermally treated (in a plum hue) manually. The 1776 Atelier Liberty 250, designed to commemorate the United States' 250th anniversary, features several references, including star-shaped hour markings

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Finally, each of the 25 Liberty 250 watches will be presented in a handcrafted wooden box constructed by an artisan carpenter in Arizona. Each box contains a small authenticated fragment of wood from a beam originally put in Independence Hall in 1735. The Liberty 250 watch, available only from 1776 Atelier or authorized merchants, is limited to 25 units and priced at USD 44,000, without taxes.