Biver introduces a new classic three-hand watch
The Biver Automatique is the brand’s second watch, and their first three-hander. Powered by an automatic movement with a micro-rotor, it is available in several dial, case, strap, and bracelet versions.
“A watch showing just the hours, minutes, and seconds is the most essential form of our art. Distilling complexity down to its purest, simplest incarnation can be its own kind of masterpiece, found in its absolute perfection and discipline. If you want to learn to play the piano, you must first master scales and classical music before you can learn to play jazz.” – Jean-Claude Biver, Co-Founder, Biver.
Biver has introduced the Biver Automatique, a classic three-hand timepiece powered by an automatic movement with a 22K gold micro-rotor. Biver was founded in 2023 by Jean-Claude Biver, a watch industry legend, and his son Pierre Biver. Biver’s first timepiece was a chiming grand complication, the Carillon Tourbillon.
The first two images are of the Carillon Tourbillon Rose Gold Obsidian Silver. The third image is of the Carillon Tourbillon Black Obsidian. The fourth image is of their Caliber JCB.001-B, featuring a Minutes repeater Carillon Tourbillon.
The Biver Automatique, their second timepiece, is available in several dial (gold, platinum, Obsidian and Pietersite), case (gold and platinum), strap (leather) and bracelet (gold and platinum) versions.
Key Features
Functions
Header image is of the18K rose gold dial with 18K rose gold case. Above image is of the 18K white gold dial with platinum 950 case.
The Biver Automatique’s functions include:
– Central hours, minutes, and seconds.
– Zero-reset mechanism. When the crown at 3 o’clock is pulled out, the second hand immediately resets to 12 o’clock, allowing for accurate time-setting, precisely to the second.
Dial
The Biver Automatique’s dial features include:
– There are four versions, each with a sector dial. The regular collection includes two gold dials, 18K white gold and 18K rose gold, and the Atelier Series includes unique stone dials, Obsidian and Pietersite.
– 18K white gold dial (platinum 950 case), above. It features a “circular and straight satin finish.” Its hands are made of 18K white gold, feature an anthracite colour, hand beveled with four interior angles. The hour-markers are made of 18K white gold, feature an anthracite colour, and applied on the dial. The Chemin de Fer or railway style minute track is made from 18K white gold, applied on the dial. “BIVER” is applied on the inner dial at 12 o’clock.
– 18K rose gold dial (18K rose gold case), above. It features a “circular and straight satin finish.” Its hands are made of 18K rose gold, feature an anthracite colour, hand beveled with four interior angles. The hour-markers are made of 18K rose gold, feature an anthracite colour, and applied on the dial. The Chemin de Fer or railway style minute track is made from 18K rose gold, applied on the dial. “BIVER” is applied on the inner dial at 12 o’clock.
– Sanded Obsidian dial (platinum 950 case), above. It features a “mottled grey” colour. Its hands are made of 18K white gold, hand beveled with four interior angles. The hour-markers are made of 18K white gold, applied on the dial. The Chemin de Fer or railway style minute track is made from 18K white gold, applied on the dial. “BIVER” is applied on the inner dial at 12 o’clock.
– Pietersite dial (18K rose gold case), above. It features a “blue with white and brown” colour pattern. Its hands are made of 18K rose gold, hand beveled with four interior angles. The hour-markers are made of 18K rose gold, applied on the dial. The Chemin de Fer or railway style track is made from 18K rose gold, applied on the dial. “BIVER” is applied on the inner dial at 12 o’clock.
“Hard stone dials are central to Biver’s ethos of connecting each watch to eternity. With that in mind, the brand will produce a limited quantity of Automatique timepieces each year with stone dials. This will be called the Atelier Series and each unique watch represents the very essence of Biver watchmaking. Each stone will only be available for a limited time and in small quantities, allowing the brand to tell different stories through different stones over time.
To inaugurate the Atelier Series, Biver is introducing two stone dial Automatique models: The platinum case paired with rich black sanded obsidian and the 18k rose gold case paired with Pietersite, a dark blue stone with swirls of white and orange. Each offers a different take on the Automatique, blending technical mastery with a bit of visual poetry.”
Case, Strap and Bracelet
The four versions with their respective leather straps. The fifth image is a closeup of case side and lugs. The sixth image is of the five-row Biver bracelet in rose gold.
The Biver Automatique’s case, strap, and bracelet features include:
– Its case is made of platinum 950 or 18K rose gold, matched to a specific dial (as described in the Dial section).
– Case diameter is 39 mm and case thickness is 10 mm.
– Lug-to-lug width is 47.55 mm and lug width is 19 mm.
– On both its dial and caseback side, it features a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside. The caseback is screwed to the case.
– It is water resistant up to 8 ATM / 80 metres / 260 feet.
– Each of the four versions is available with a leather strap, the colour depending on the individual model. The straps are fitted to a pin buckle, made of platinum or rose gold, depending on the model.
– A five-row Biver bracelet, made of platinum or rose gold, is available depending on the individual model.
Movement
The Biver Automatique’s movement features include:
– It is powered by Calibre JCB-003, an automatic movement featuring a bi-directional 22K gold micro-rotor. The movement is also designed to be hand wound via the crown at 3 o’clock.
– It was developed in close collaboration with Dubois Dépraz, a renowned movement specialist, founded in 1901 in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland.
– It drives the hours, minutes, seconds, and zero-reset mechanism.
– Its diameter is 30.60 mm and thickness 4.00 mm.
– It has 36 jewels.
– It beats at a frequency of 25,200 vph or 3.5 Hz.
– It has a power reserve of 65 hours.
– Its movement finishing includes: Circular graining on the gold plates; Clou de Paris guilloché on the bridges and micro-rotor; anglage; black polishing and straight-graining on the gold bridges; circular graining and black polishing on the gear train; black polishing and satin finishing on the steel components.
“At the heart of the Biver Automatique is the brand new Calibre JCB-003. Developed in close collaboration with partners at Dubois Depraz, it was designed from the ground up to be a foundation not just for this watch but for future watches as well. This meant creating the most technically sound movement possible, with all the necessary architecture to make it adaptable as Biver grows and explores other complications.”
The JCB seal
The Biver Automatique meets the criteria of The JCB seal. It is a set of 59 – 62 strict criteria (depending on model and complications/s) that encompass the movement, movement components, tourbillon (if any), performance, dial, hands and markers, case and its components, gems and gem-setting and water resistance. Once each timepiece is crafted and cased-up, they go through a final test which covers their water-resistance, accuracy, power reserve, all functions, and aesthetics and fit. (The detailed criteria are explained on the brand’s website.)
“The JCB seal aims to promote the highest degree of finishing in watchmaking craftsmanship. It is the guarantee of handcrafted, handmade work, in the purest respect for Swiss watchmaking traditions.”
Each Biver timepiece comes with a 3-year warranty and is designed to be repairable throughout its lifetime.
Our Thoughts
To better understand Biver the brand and the Automatique, one must first understand Biver the man – the industry legend that is Jean-Claude Biver. His horological resume includes time spent at Audemars Piguet; followed by the purchase and revival of Blancpain; time spent at Swatch Group, especially Omega; followed by the revival of Hublot before its sale to LVMH and finally time spent at LVMH, where he brought life back to brands such as TAG Heuer and Zenith. Mr. Biver is not a watchmaker, rather an entrepreneur who has proven time and time again, what works and what doesn’t in the Swiss watchmaking industry. Without him, many of the brands he oversaw might not even exist today.
This magic is now being applied to his namesake brand, co-founded by him and his son Pierre in 2003. I have not used the term “in-house” in this article. In the case of Mr. Biver, “in-house” means little. Given his illustrious career, wealth of knowledge about watchmaking and its history, and his network, literally the entire Swiss watchmaking ecosystem is “his house”. He can pick and choose the best and most suitable suppliers and specialists for Biver timepieces. A strategy like the one used by Maximilian Büsser of MB&F.
The Biver Automatique is a beautiful expression of a classic three-hand timepiece with a sector dial. Based on images and supporting information, every detail, be it the dial, hands, markers, railway-style minute track, case, choice of materials, straps and bracelets convey the immense thought and execution that has gone into them. The movement is beautifully constructed and finished. For a brand that is barely two years old, they already have their own quality seal! A demanding criteria which they and all their selected partners must adhere too. Everything is about top notch quality and standards.
My personal favorite is the version with 18K rose gold dial and case, paired with a leather strap (header image). It evokes vintage vibes, such as sector dial timepieces from decades ago. The Biver Automatique is for a sophisticated collector who appreciates classical watchmaking, brilliantly executed, modern, and full of gorgeous details one can never tire off.
Additional Details
Name: The Biver Automatique
Price (exclusive of local taxes and duties) in Swiss Franc (CHF):
– Automatique Platinum / 18K white gold dial / leather strap: CHF 78,000
– Automatique Platinum / 18K white gold dial / platinum bracelet: CHF 107,000
– Automatique Rose Gold / 18K rose gold dial / leather strap: CHF 75,000
– Automatique Rose Gold / 18K rose gold dial / rose gold bracelet: CHF 94,000
Atelier Series
– Automatique Platinum / Obsidian dial / leather strap: CHF 92,000
– Automatique Platinum / Obsidian dial / platinum bracelet: CHF 121,000
– Automatique Rose Gold / Pietersite dial / leather strap: CHF 89,000
– Automatique Rose Gold / Pietersite dial / rose gold bracelet: CHF: 108,000
Please visit the Biver website for further information on The Biver Automatique and details of their authorized retailers. In Dubai, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is an authorized retailer of Biver timepieces.
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