The Toledano & Chan B/1.2 Gamechanger
Wrist-Candy Worth the Wait: The Toledano & Chan B/1.2 Arrives in Style
After months of eager anticipation, the Toledano & Chan B/1.2 has finally landed, and I’m fortunate enough to have secured the second piece delivered to the UK. Thanks to a well-timed call from the team at Time+Tide, I found myself wearing what might just be one of the most captivating watches of 2025.
At a glance, the B/1.2 builds on the success of its predecessor with refined confidence. Designers Phil Toledano and Alfred Chan have struck an elegant balance between modern minimalism and visual drama. The addition of a Tahitian Mother-of-Pearl dial brings a new layer of iridescent depth to the design, constantly shifting in tone depending on the light.
But it’s the faceted crystal that steals the show, like peering through the cut of a gemstone. It magnifies and refracts in a way that draws you in, inviting you to get lost in the complexity of the dial beneath. Worn on the wrist, the B/1.2 doesn’t just look different, it feels different. Cool, architectural, and somehow intimate.
On the wrist, it feels like more than just a watch.
It’s a sculpture on the wrist, an object that transcends timekeeping and enters the realm of art. The B/1.2 doesn’t just tell time; it captures a moment, a mood, a feeling. And somehow, it translates that into something you wear.
Over the years, I’ve tried on hundreds of watches, appreciating each for its own merits—design, craftsmanship, heritage. But none have connected with me quite like the B/1.2 has. I can’t fully explain why, but I can try to unravel the feeling.
When I first tried on the original B/1, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I actually got goosebumps. Maybe it was because it belonged to Andrew McUtchen, and his passion for the piece is infectious. Or maybe it was something more, an emotional resonance that clicked the moment I strapped it on.
That same feeling hit me again at the Time & Tide Discovery Studio when I picked up the B/1.2. A quiet, magnetic energy. A moment of connection. It’s rare, and it’s real. And it reminds me that sometimes, the most beautiful watches aren’t just designed to be worn—but to be felt.
How Can an Inanimate Object, Like a Watch, Evoke Such a Feeling?
Because it's never just about the object.
A watch might be made of steel, glass, lume, and gears—but what it holds is far less tangible. It's a vessel for memory, identity, and emotion. The hum of a mechanical movement might echo the heartbeat of a loved one who once wore it. The patina on the case might remind us of the journeys we've taken—both around the world and within ourselves.
Watches are among the few objects we wear so intimately and so constantly. They mark the passing of time, yes—but also the moments that made us who we are. They are gifts, heirlooms, trophies, and companions. And sometimes, just sometimes, when the light hits the dial just right or the second hand sweeps with mechanical grace, they make us feel something deep and hard to name.
Not because they tick, but because they touch, and that is precisely what the B/1.2 has done to me.
The bracelet, once sized, feels like an extension of the watch’s design philosophy.
Every link flows effortlessly from the case, continuing the architectural rhythm of the dial and case structure. There’s an elegance in its articulation, more fluid than the B/1’s bracelet, with a butterfly clasp that snaps shut with a satisfying, confident click.
Designed as a destro piece, the crown is neatly positioned on the left side, preserving perfect symmetry and enhancing the clean visual balance. And visually, this watch just keeps delivering. Every angle reveals something new, something deliberate. It’s not about precise time-telling—there are no indices, no second hand—but that’s beside the point. This watch is a feeling, a presence. And for me, it might just be the piece. The one that speaks to me on every level.
With only 200 pieces made, the B/1.2 sold out in just eight minutes—a testament to the appetite for what Toledano & Chan are creating. Their bold, almost poetic design language is entirely their own. Each piece feels like a sentence in a story still unfolding.
And with the B/2 still under wraps, I can’t help but feel a childlike anticipation. Where will they go next? What will they say with their next release? All I know is this: Toledano & Chan are one of the most compelling voices in independent watchmaking today. Until we hear from them again, I’ll be wearing the hell out of this one,for as long as time will let me.
Now that a few weeks have passed since the B/1.2 landed on my wrist, it's safe to say it’s become a standout in my collection, not just visually, but emotionally too. There’s something about wearing it that gives me a genuine lift, like it’s quietly rewiring my mood. Yes, it turns heads, but more than that, it’s shifted my perspective on what a watch brand can be.
This isn’t haute horology. It’s pure, unapologetic design, and that’s exactly why it resonates. It’s speaking a language I didn’t know I was fluent in until now. So, to Phil Toledano and Alfred Chan: whatever dialect you're creating, I get it. Loud and clear. And I’m all ears for what comes next.