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[NWA] Birchall & Taylor Reference 1
First model by this Canadian duo of watchmakers Charles Birchall and Bradley Taylor. They went to watchmaking school in Switzerland, meeting there in 2012. Afterwards, they went separate ways, but eventually ended up in Toronto and decided to partner together. The partnership ran into tough times when COVID hit and they were forced to close shop. Bradley Taylor returned to the scene on his own and is creating high-end beauties. I don't know about Birchall.
This is a 38 mm SS case holding a grand feu enamel cream dial with a white small seconds dial and a customized, but mostly standard Vaucher micro-rotor movement. The guys were permitted to order one single movement so they could disassemble it and judge if it was worthy. Hands are purpled. This piece is from 2019. I was not searching for this, but came across it for sale online recently. Glad I decided to acquire it. Original strap is also green, but is being sent separately. This one happens to be an odd 19 mm strap that I already had.
Very fine watch you have there!
The two level enamel dial is very finely made. It is a very finely made watch without pretense, a perfect choice for those who prefer quiet luxury.
I had a chance to visit Charles and Bradley's Toronto workshop back in 2018. It was a treat to see firsthand the fine finishing work that was put into each and every component, including very small components such as the bosses of the hands. They are both great individuals and very talented watchmakers.
Bradley Taylor is now operating out of Vancouver and the watches he's released under his own name feature beautiful guilloche dials and Vaucher movements finished with traditional anglage, something that you don't get with Parmigiani's own Tonda PF watches. I've not had a chance to see his latest watches in person, but I hope to see them (and potentially a new model) at this year's Toronto Timepiece Show in September.
