Project Tai Yu is Independent Atelier’s homage to Chinese independent watchmaker Kiu Tai Yu, built around the design of his Millennium watch. In launch coverage dated January 14, 2026, the new watch was reported as a 25-piece, 18K yellow-gold series priced at CHF 30,500. Those are launch terms, not confirmation of current price or availability: Independent Atelier’s current homepage describes a piece-unique Project Tai Yu with a different movement specification, and the relationship between the descriptions is unclear.
Who was Kiu Tai Yu, and what is Project Tai Yu?
Kiu Tai Yu was a Chinese independent watchmaker and, according to Fratello’s January 14, 2026 launch report, the first Chinese member of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI). Italian Watch Spotter’s February 7, 2026 coverage identifies 1992 as the year he joined; the AHCI’s own site describes the organization and its work, but the pages reviewed do not independently confirm that chronology. Italian Watch Spotter’s background on Project Tai Yu and the AHCI website provide further context.
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Independent Atelier is a collaborative platform founded by Benjamin Hui with peers. Project Tai Yu is presented as a study and homage to Kiu Tai Yu’s work, rather than a revival of his workshop or an attempt to modernize his original watch. Hui told Fratello he had admired Kiu’s work for more than 13 years and spent over 10 years searching for his watches before acquiring two, including a Millennium. The quotations here are attributed to Hui by Fratello; no original interview transcript was located.
How does Project Tai Yu relate to the Millennium?
Kiu Tai Yu’s Millennium is reported as a 2000 creation made in a run of 20. Project Tai Yu takes its visual cues from that watch: its layout, inscriptions, typography and distinctive display mix Chinese, Roman and Western Arabic numerals. Fratello describes the design as retaining the original’s Suzhou-style display. A “2025” marking at 12 o’clock refers, in the launch report, to the year the homage was realized—not to the launch date.
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Hui and watchmaker Zhang YuXin reportedly examined the original Millennium movement. Fratello quotes Hui saying the reverse-engineering process revealed how far ahead of his time Kiu was, and that he had used handmade components. That is Hui’s characterization as printed in the launch coverage, rather than an independently documented technical finding.
What are the reported launch specifications?
The following details come from Fratello’s January 14, 2026 launch report. They are reported specifications, not independently measured or tested results.
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- 1. Highlighted bright green luminous, clear time display at night
- 2. Standard size of 13mm, accurate dimensions for a smooth fit
- 3. Compatible with mechanical movements NH35 and NH36
- 4. Material construction, sturdy and wear-resistant
- 5. Easy installation, great accessory for watch customization
| Feature | Launch-report detail |
|---|---|
| Case | 18K yellow gold, brushed and polished, with red cold-enamel detailing |
| Dimensions | 35 mm diameter × 46 mm lug-to-lug × 11.2 mm thick, including the crystal |
| Crystal and back | Sapphire crystals on both sides; gold-and-sapphire back secured by six screws |
| Dial | Half black and half silver, with Chinese text and four numeral styles; the black side has an open-heart aperture with a red background |
| Movement | IATY-01, described as based on an ETA 2836; automatic with manual winding; 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), 60-hour power reserve and 25 jewels |
| Functions | Hours and minutes |
| Water resistance | 30 m |
| Strap and buckle | Black-and-red Jeayou leather strap with an 18K gold pin buckle |
Fratello says the IATY-01 retains the original movement architecture’s visual character while making discreet changes to the escapement, balance shaft, shock protection, regulator and hairspring, with reliability and serviceability as aims. That account is not a hands-on assessment. Other January 14, 2026 launch coverage differs: Monochrome describes the ETA base with a qualification and lists a 38-hour reserve rather than Fratello’s 60 hours. Fratello’s launch report and Monochrome’s coverage therefore do not establish a single, independently verified movement specification.
What did Project Tai Yu cost at launch, and is it available now?
Fratello reported on January 14, 2026 that the watch was limited to 25 pieces and priced at CHF 30,500. Monochrome’s coverage on the same date also reported 25 pieces and CHF 30,500. These figures describe the launch reporting only; they do not establish current stock, a current price, or whether all 25 watches were made available for sale.
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There is an unresolved difference between that launch information and the current Independent Atelier homepage. The homepage describes a “piece unique” Project Tai Yu with a 35 mm gold case and an ETA 2892 movement, while the launch reports describe a 25-piece series and an ETA 2836-based IATY-01. The pages reviewed do not explain whether the homepage refers to a distinct piece, a changed description or an update. Ask the atelier to confirm the edition, movement and current availability before treating either description as the current purchasing specification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What makes the tribute distinctive?
The central idea is fidelity to a specific watchmaker’s visual language paired with a new, limited luxury watch. The numeral mix and dial arrangement connect the homage to the Millennium, while the gold case, open-heart aperture and reported movement refinements make this a new execution rather than simply an original Kiu Tai Yu watch. The distinction matters to collectors: Project Tai Yu should be understood as Independent Atelier’s interpretation of Kiu’s work, not as one of Kiu’s own 20 Millennium watches.
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For further reading on the history of independent watchmaking, the AHCI shop lists an English-language illustrated hardcover, The Independent Spirit, Time Makers since 1985, described as 215 pages with 228 illustrations. The listing currently marks it sold out, so those book details should not be read as a Project Tai Yu specification or as an offer of current availability. See the AHCI shop.
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