2024 Toledano & Chan Lapis Dial Ref. b/1 (Full Set)

Toledano & Chan ‘Lapis’ Toledano & Chan entered the watch world with a very different approach from most young brands. Rather than starting with trends or vintage reissues, founders Phil Toledano and Alfred Chan built the B/1 around their shared appreciation for architecture, sculpture and unconventional design. Phil Toledano, already well known in the collector world for his passion for unusual 1970s watch design, approached the project less as a commercial product and more as an object of design. Brutalist architecture, especially the work of Marcel Breuer and the angular windows of the Met Breuer building in New York, became the starting point for the entire watch. The result was the B/1, the first watch from the brand and probably one of the most original releases of recent years. Its sharply angled asymmetrical case, integrated bracelet and left-side crown clearly nod to watches like the Rolex King Midas, but the overall execution feels entirely its own. The lapis lazuli dial adds an interesting contrast to the hard architectural lines of the case, bringing warmth and texture to what is otherwise a very sculptural design. The watch was produced in a limited run of only 175 pieces and quickly developed a strong following among collectors who appreciate independent watchmaking and design-led watches outside the traditional mainstream. This particular example remains in exceptional condition and presents close to new. The watch appears unpolished and has only been worn a handful of times, retaining the sharp surfaces and crisp geometry that are such an important part of the B/1’s design. Complete with its original accessories, it represents an opportunity to acquire the inaugural Toledano & Chan release in the way collectors generally hope to find them today — honest, sharp and very lightly worn. It comes with one of the coolest watch boxes we have seen.