Atelier Montpelier: An Evolving American Watch Brand that Embodies a Spirit of Transformation

Over a year ago, 1776 Atelier’s founder Jason Lu shared his vision of orchestrating a brand that was as American as possible, in terms of production but without exorbitant pricing. The initial Mount Vernon was their step towards realising this goal, with the later release of the Monticello also making significant progress. Yet the entry of the Atelier Montpelier pushes this further, encapsulating beauty and further pushing boundaries.

Launched in October 2025, the Montpelier is an evolved version of its predecessor, the Monticello. It is born from Lu’s vision of refining the Monticello into a production that is more aligned with his brand’s philosophy. This venture was realised through Zach Smith, a renowned watchmaker and the owner of precision component manufacturer, Hour Precision. The partnership paved the way for more domestic production, which provided an exceptional and greatly improved product experience than previous models.

The evolution of 1776 Atelier, from the Mount Vernon to the Montpelier, showcases the brand’s commitment to delivering unmatched quality and American craftsmanship. It signifies Lu’s dedication in creating timepieces that are as much artifacts of time as they are indicators of it.