1776 Atelier "Liberty 250" 18 Karat Rose Gold Special Edition (Pre-Order)

Horology By The Sea is thrilled to present "Liberty 250", a Special Edition timepiece of true artisanal American watchmaking from 1776 Atelier in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. This project brings together American movement manufacturing, traditional hand finishing, and documented historical material
connected to the founding of the country. More than 90% of the movement is manufactured in-house, including the main plate, bridges, wheels, screws, balance, and regulating components. The primary movement components are produced from raw American-sourced brass, ground to flatness using restored vintage machines before machining. Milled pieces are then extensively hand-finished, assembled, and regulated in the United States.

The architecture of the dial is a study in texture and light, intentioned to exhibit 1776 Atelier's dedication to hand finishing. Underneath the handmade and heat flamed purple hands lies an exquisite double-layered dial exhibiting 62 internal angles and hand polished bevels. The intricate recesses are frosted to provide an excellent contrast to the polished surfaces. Beneath the dial we are given view of the fully beveled gear train, of which each gear is circle grained on both sides and finished in 18k rose gold. Visible past the dial is the mainspring barrel with Double Solarization. Stars exist on the dial as tribute to the original 13 colonies: 12 of which are easily found on the chapter and a the 13th on the solid rose gold circular plate displaying the watch's individual serial number.

The reverse side reveals 1776 Atelier's hand wound Caliber 0917.1787 which operates at an eye-pleasing 2.5Hz. Finishing is performed with traditional techniques: hand anglage, black polishing, solarization, grinding, thermal coloring, hand engraving, Geneva striping and hand-finished steelwork. Bridges incorporate Côtes de Genève, media blasted surfaces and angalge, highlighting the atelier’s focus on movement finish and breadth of finishing capabilities.

1776 Atelier introduced 2 additional jewels to fully support the mainspring barrel allowing for reduced friction during power delivery, ensuring a more efficient transmission through the gear train and an increased power reserve to 53 hours. The movement uses a free-sprung balance. This construction removes the conventional regulator index and places rate adjustment at the balance itself, a choice associated with stability and serious mechanical watchmaking.

1776 Atelier's unique movement bridges are given a hand applied diamond texture to the vertical surfaces. This is a technique unique to Glashutte trained watchmakers as it highlights the hand finished polished bevels. The raised edges are circle grained while the recesses are frosted by way of a 3 micron glass bead blast. It is only with a with a flawless surface underneath can a positive result be achieved. The crown and ratchet wheels are double solarized and are made extra thick to highlight the beveling.

The custom made ratchet system is designed to prevent overwinding and to provide a lovely and unique feedback during winding. The pallet fork and all screws are black polished by hand. Leaving no part unfinished, even the shock absorber residing on the balance cock undergoes snailing and is finished in 18 karat rose gold to match the screw-studded balance wheel.

The 18 Karat Rose Gold case case measures 41mm x 10.2mm x 49mm lug-to-lug and is attached to a 20mm black sharkskin strap with purple stitching and signed 18 karat rose gold pin buckle. Water Resistant to 50 Meters.

The Liberty 250 is furnished with a handmade wooden box crafted by an artisan woodworker in the United States. 1776 Atelier secured authenticated wood from a beam originally installed in Independence Hall in 1735. The beam remained in the building through the Revolutionary period and was present when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. A small piece of that wood is inlaid into every Liberty 250 presentation box, accompanied by provenance documentation and a certificate of authenticity.

A 1776 Atelier "Liberty 250" is scheduled to arrive October 2026. To reserve this watch with a partial deposit please contact brandon@horologybythesea.com. If you wish to pay in full you may do so using the checkout process... Thank you!