I first saw the Bradley Taylor Paragon early in February of 2021. Without doubt, it was the perfectly crafted purple hands that captured and held my gaze. After my eyes finally scanned the rest of the dial it was apparent that the light play on the uniquely designed applied Breguet style numerals was also breathtaking.  

There were hints of Patek coming through this design but it also spoke to a fresh uniqueness that also stood alone. I was hooked, especially knowing that this was the first offering of a young independent and highly capable watchmaker.

Soon after my initial enquiry to discuss the colour options Rob and The Regulator got their thirsty throats into a few drinks and then sunk their gritty teeth into the good and bad points of the Bradley Taylor Paragon.

I definitely questioned my taste after the entertaining roasting that podmonsters, Rob and The Regulator, flushed through my speakers. The crown was crap and the price was a ripoff…. But otherwise, it wasn’t too bad …. Was this a risk?

After exchanging emails with BT it was game on …. I would however have to live with the fact that this was forever to be tarnished as a “Canadian millionaires watch”. Would I one day have to become a Canadian to be so???? A bridge too far????

It took longer than expected for my Bradley Taylor Paragon to start to come together. The first hints of progress came when I received photos of “my dial”. Truth is that the colour shown was not what I had initially imagined I should have. I definitely did a double take when I saw the pics and thought that BT must have mixed up dials with someone else. 

After several views, I went back to BT and suggested that the colours were not right. He immediately offered me a new dial! I slept on it. I thought about it. After a day or two I realised that this accidental dial was actually THE dial. It was perfect, in my mind’s eye the accidental masterpiece was reborn. I was so excited! 

Jumping forward several months, the piece arrived, it was extraordinary, it was mesmerising, the hands were beyond belief, the case was masterfully sculptured and the dial was in a class of its own. 

After several months of trying, I am still not happy with any of the photos I have taken of this piece. Somehow I can not capture the experience of the Bradley Taylor Paragon. I am challenged by this and will continue to look for the right light, right angle and right moment to capture this inspired creation.

It’s a privilege to have this “One of One” from the series of 12 that BT made.

Working with him on this project was a real treat and I certainly do hope to be able to add another one of his pieces to the fold in the future.

It is gorgeous, perfectly comfortable on the wrist (its 39mm diameter and slender 9.8mm profile make it so) and the light playing off the entire dial is like New Years Eve on Sydney harbour. I love it on the mesh bracelet (kinda my thing for those who know me) and the movement is a delightfully accurate automatic micro rotor with excellent finishing.

That maligned crown…… well it works for me!

The price …. well it’s the price of beauty. 

Never to be sold!