Collection: 1776 Atelier

1776 Atelier is part of a new generation of American watchmakers dedicated to high horology. Its movements are designed with proprietary bridge architecture, and every watch is finished by hand using traditional techniques: anglage (hand beveling), perlage, black polishing, hand engraving, circular satin finishing and snailing. The brand describes itself as a low-volume, semi-bespoke watchmaker, and many of its watches are configured for their owner before they are built.

The name is a deliberate statement. Just as 1776 marks America's declaration of independence, the brand set out to make a declaration of excellence in fine watchmaking from American soil. Most of the component content in its watches is made in the United States, including bridges, wheels, main plates and, depending on the collection, balances. Those parts are then hand-finished, hand-decorated and hand-assembled by American watchmakers.

King Jewelers is proud to offer 1776 Atelier in Nashville, TN.

An American founding. 1776 Atelier was founded by Jason Lu, whose background in mechanical engineering and deep interest in American history led him into watchmaking. He is joined by co-founder and COO Zach Smith, an Ohio-based independent watchmaker and ultra-precision machinist who is WOSTEP-certified and produces parts to tolerances measured in microns.

Reviving American watchmaking. The brand's stated mission is to take part in the revival of watchmaking in the United States by emphasizing the hand-finishing that has long been the hallmark of high horology, and to make that level of craftsmanship accessible to a broader circle of collectors. Every movement is finished and regulated in Texas.

Transparency on origin. Although the large majority of its component content is American-made, 1776 Atelier does not engrave its watches "Made in the USA," because the Federal Trade Commission requires 100% American content for that mark. The brand works with a small group of specialist partners where their expertise is the best available, and presents its origin exactly as U.S. rules define it.

The Liberty 250. Created to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Liberty 250 pairs an openworked dial with a movement counting 222 hand-finished internal angles.

Mount Vernon is 1776 Atelier's core collection: a 40.5mm 316L stainless steel case, 10.2mm thick, powered by the hand-wound calibre HP917 with a 48-hour power reserve, brushed applied Breguet numerals and a flat sapphire case back. King Jewelers carries two dials. The Aventurine pairs a silver guilloché center with a ring of blue aventurine quartz, and the Meteorite pairs a guilloché center with a ring of Muonionalusta meteorite. Each dial is offered with three movement finishes, Geneva stripes, hand-engraved American Gun Scroll or hand-engraved Federal Scroll, all with a triple-snailed ratchet wheel, from $4,300 to $7,700.

Liberty 250 marks America's 250th anniversary. The 41mm case houses the hand-wound calibre L250, with a free-sprung balance and 48-hour power reserve, beneath a layered black rhodium dial with thermally colored steel hands. King Jewelers is offering it in 18K rose gold, limited to 25 pieces, at $44,000, and in solid tantalum at $39,000.

All 1776 Atelier watches at King Jewelers are currently offered on pre-order, with a 50% deposit at checkout and the balance charged when your watch ships. Mount Vernon deliveries are expected in November 2026 and Liberty 250 deliveries in December 2026.

1776 Atelier covers its watches with a two-year manufacturer's warranty on most collections, excluding normal wear and tear and misuse. To keep warranty coverage in place, service must be carried out by 1776 Atelier or an authorized repair center, and the brand recommends servicing any mechanical watch every three to five years. As an authorized retailer, King Jewelers supplies every 1776 Atelier watch new and authentic with the full manufacturer's warranty, and our Nashville team is available to help with sizing, care and service.