Independent Watch Design with Toledano and Chan
About this episode
The episode features a discussion with Alfred Chan and Phil Toledano about their latest watch release and various aspects of independent watch design.
View full show notes here . This week, I’m joined by Alfred Chan and Phil Toledano of Toledano & Chan . They’ve just announced their latest release, the b1.3r, an updated take on their brutalist integrated bracelet watch. Alfred is a talented watch designer, and Phil is an inscrutable artist and collector. We talk about that their latest release, but also: manufacturing in China vs. Switzerland (their first releases were made in China, while the b1.3r is made in Switzerland); stone dials and the state of the microbrand space; making an asymmetrical crystal; the best watches they bought in 2025; marketing, TikTok, brand ambassadors, and Timothee Chalamet; making something that’s intentionally divisive; why their costs $10,000 (!); and what’s next for Toledano & Chan. The case and bracelet of the b1.3r is now in titanium, and it’s been slightly shrunk down compared to previous releases. The main feature of this watch is the solid-gold “ripple” dial, meant to look like ripples on the water (very Grand Seiko). For more, visit Toledano & Chan or find them on Instagram . Subscribe to the podcast to get future episodes in your feed: Spotify / Apple / RSS Unpolished is the newsletter for…
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