Introducing Independent Atelier Debuts the Project Tai Yu

Independent Atelier was founded as a horological research platform by Chinese watch collector and horological researcher Benjamin Hui alongside members of the GPHG Academy and independent watchmaking peers, with a singular purpose: to preserve, study, and reintroduce important but overlooked chapters of independent watchmaking history. Rather than developing collections built around a fixed design language or a recognisable house style, Independent Atelier operates as a cultural atelier. Each project is conceived as a standalone study that gives forgotten or inaccessible watchmaking legacies a second life without altering their original character.

This philosophy positions Independent Atelier closer to a curatorial institution than to a traditional manufacture. Its role is not to reinterpret history through modern aesthetics but to act as a custodian of watchmaking voices shaped outside commercial frameworks and, in many cases, outside Western-centric narratives.

Project Tai Yu marks the brand’s first chapter and establishes its identity with rare clarity. It pays tribute to Kiu Tai Yu, the first Chinese watchmaker to join the AHCI (Academy of Independent Watchmaking Creators) and a foundational yet scarcely seen figure in independent Chinese horology. Rather than reimagining his work, Independent Atelier presents a carefully considered continuation that preserves the spirit, layout, and cultural specificity of his original Millennium watch from the 2000, allowing a new generation of collectors to engage with a legacy that has remained largely out of reach for decades.

The watch is housed in a compact round case with sculpted lugs and sapphire crystals on both sides. It measures 35 mm in diameter and 11.2 mm in thickness. The case is crafted from 18K yellow gold and finished with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces, enhanced by red cold-enamel detailing that adds a restrained yet unmistakable accent to its profile.

Speaking of, the cold-enamel is a decorative filling technique that uses pigmented resin cured at room temperature rather than glass fused by high heat. Unlike traditional fired enamel, which becomes permanently bonded to metal through kiln firing and is prized for its near-eternal stability, cold-enamel is softer, more flexible, and historically associated with engraved metal and calligraphic crafts rather than European dial-enamelling schools. In the context of Project Tai Yu, its use is not a compromise but a deliberate cultural choice. Kiu Tai Yu’s original work relied on lacquer and cold-filled techniques drawn from Chinese craft traditions, and Independent Atelier preserves this language to maintain the authenticity of his construction philosophy rather than replacing it with more prestigious yet historically foreign materials.

The dial is arranged as a two-register display. The upper section is rendered in black with gold-coloured balance bridges and an open-heart aperture, while the lower portion features a vertically brushed silver surface punctuated by red accents. The display is completed by sword-shaped hour and minute hands and a mix of Roman numerals, Western Arabic numerals, and traditional Chinese numerals.

Powering the watch is the IATY-01 calibre, an automatic movement that follows the architectural principles of Kiu Tai Yu’s original construction while incorporating discreet refinements for contemporary reliability. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and delivers a power reserve of 60 hours. The watch is paired with a black and red Jeayou leather strap fitted with an 18K yellow gold pin buckle. It is produced in a limited series of 25 pieces and priced at CHF 30,500, approximately AED 140,100.

For more information, visit Independent Atelier’s official Instagram page.