When it comes to making a great watch, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Jokes aside, we’re firm believers that a great watch announces its majesty only on close inspection, rather than commanding attention from across the room by way of outsized cases and frivolous bells and whistles.
So that new McLaren-inspired Richard Mille eyesore that retails for $191k? Hard pass. But a svelte, stainless-steel-encased automatic on black alligator leather? That’s damn near perfect.
It’s the Reference 1, the first timepiece from Toronto-based Birchall & Taylor, which — as far as we’re concerned — pretty much designates them as the premier name in Canadian horology right out of the gate. On its face, the watch is an exercise in beautiful restraint, from the 38mm case to the un-numbered dial to the monochromatic color scheme. But on the technical front, the Reference 1 can holds its own with any entry-level luxury watch, with a 29-jewel, Swiss-manufactured automatic movement with a 48-hour power reserve that you can admire through the open caseback.
What really sets the watch apart, though? The “Grand Feu”-style enamel dial, which is produced via a laborious process of hand-firing soft glass over extreme temperatures to yield a rich, lustrous white that won’t fade over time.
The watch retails for $7,400; contact Birchall & Taylor directly for inquiries.
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