Atelier Méphalie Introduction

A Name Born in 1876, Reborn with New Vitality

Mephalie was founded in 1876 by Sun Tingyuan. In 1915, his son Sun Meitang opened a new watch factory in Shanghai. That year, the factory mechanized traditional watchmaking while retaining Chinese decorative features, including carving and mother-of-pearl inlay on mahogany. The table screen clock produced by the factory won a gold medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

The workshop was destroyed in 1932, and its name fell silent for decades. Led by Mr. Lin Xiaolin, Mephalie has revived its century-old watchmaking craftsmanship and rebuilt the Mephalie workshop, Atelier Mephalie. The watchmaking team brings together craftsmen and watch repair specialists with more than 20 years of experience, as well as professionals in movement architecture and precision machining. Mr. Lin set his sights on the minute repeater—widely regarded as one of the most complex striking functions in horology—as the first voice of the brand’s return.

“The revival of Mephalie is not merely about bringing a historic brand back into public view; more importantly, it is about ensuring that its products can once again respond to the needs of the times,” said Mr. Lin.

150 Years On: The First Voice of a Century-Old Brand’s Return

The minute repeater movement developed by Mephalie over five years measures just 6.89 mm thick, beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, and offers a power reserve of more than 45 hours. A pusher on the side activates the striking mechanism; two hammers then strike two gongs to chime the hours, quarters and minutes. The full striking sequence lasts up to about 23 seconds and can reach a sound pressure level of more than 80 decibels. Through the caseback, the striking action can be seen in full, while finishing includes Côtes de Genève and perlage.

Over five years, in order to ensure stability, acoustic performance and production consistency, the R&D team carried out multiple rounds of mechanical tuning as well as acoustic and production testing, with every stage repeatedly verified and adjusted. The goal was not merely to produce a display prototype, but to establish a high-end watchmaking system at Atelier Mephalie that can be manufactured and maintained over the long term. Ultimately, Atelier Mephalie completed its independently developed minute repeater movement. Mr. Lin added: “We believe that the key to a brand’s true longevity lies not only in past achievements, but also in its ability to create in the present.”

From the melodious chimes of striking clocks a century ago to the crisp ringing of a minute repeater on the wrist today, Mephalie is writing a new chapter in the history of a high-end Chinese watch brand with solid technical strength.

Mephalie unveils three major collections.

On October 23, 2026, Mephalie, a brand founded in 1876, will celebrate its 150th anniversary. To mark this important occasion, Mephalie will officially unveil three major collections: Mei, Hua and Li. Under the brand name, the three collections unite a shared philosophy in design, craftsmanship and movement development.

Mei - Refined Luxury，Hua - Living Craftsmanship，Li - Forged for Greatness. This is both Mephalie’s brand proposition and a distillation of the creative direction of the three collections.

The Mei collection presents a refined and luxurious watch aesthetic, focusing on exterior design, finishing techniques and visual texture, sculpting ornate elegance and conveying refined distinction. It introduces the “Voice of China” hand-engraved minute repeater.

The Hua collection continues traditional Chinese craftsmanship and Eastern culture, tracing back to the origins of civilization. As the culmination of the brand’s technical depth and humanistic richness, the collection is dedicated to interpreting Eastern aesthetics in a contemporary expression on the wrist. It introduces the “Steed” cloisonné enamel minute repeater.

The Li collection explores complicated mechanics and high watchmaking techniques. Focusing on complex functions and special crafts, it embodies Mephalie’s exploration of mechanical architecture, technical depth and watchmaking capability. It introduces “The Virtuoso” automaton minute repeater.

The 150th anniversary is a moment to look back on the journey and a starting point for new creations. With the official launch of the three collections, this name that began in Shanghai is once again opening its own chapter in time with the sound of the minute repeater.