The Biver Automatique is a pure expression of the exclusive brand’s neoclassical approach to watchmaking.
This new pair of special timepieces takes these ideas a step further, distilling the Automatique to its most essential elements. Black and white hard-fired enamel dials emphasise the thoughtfulness of the watch’s design while highlighting the incredible craftsmanship and singularity of purpose required to achieve such stunning results. These Automatique timepieces represent the true coming together of Japanese aesthetics and Swiss watchmaking tradition.
“Japan has always held a special place in my heart. During my early days in the watch industry, I remember visiting the country and being deeply impressed by its collectors. Their appreciation for detail and pursuit of perfection left a lasting impact on me, making it an honour to present these Japan Editions in a country I deeply admire.”
Jean-Claude Biver, Co-Founder, Biver Watches
The hearts of these timepieces are their hard-fired enamel dials. Available in either bright white paired with a platinum case or deep black paired with a rose gold case, they reach for the limits of light and shadow, utilising classical watchmaking crafts as a method of exploring Japanese aesthetics. Each has a polished finish that can appear mirror-like or translucent depending on how the light strikes its surface. Applied 18k gold hour markers punctuate the glossy expanse, adding additional reflections and dimension to the already superlative dials.
“Black and white dials were chosen because they align with traditional Japanese aesthetics. We also appreciate them as classic colours in traditional watchmaking, offering us the opportunity to bring two perspectives together. The result is a pair of timeless classics that are still distinctly Biver in style.”
Pierre Biver, Co-Founder, Biver Watches
Enamel is a tricky craft to master and even after decades of experience it remains more art than science. For these dials, we decided to work with Les Émailleurs de la Cité, Switzerland’s leader in exceptional enamel. A craftsperson starts with either a 22k rose gold or an 18k white gold dial plate and a selection of enamel powders. These powders are applied to the surface in fine layers and then the dial-in-progress is fired at temperatures approaching 800°C to melt the powders and form the glassy enamel.
Applied gold hour markers are rarely seen on enamel dials, and for good reason. Affixing them to the enamel can create cracks, destroying an already completed dial. To alleviate this concern, we leave small patches of bare gold where the markers go, allowing us to anchor gold to gold, rather than having to go through the enamel itself. This comes with its own problems though, complicating the polishing process and requiring our craftspeople to operate at extremely small tolerances so that there is no visible gap between the markers and the enamel itself. The process is arduous, but the results speak for themselves.
The Biver Automatique Japan Edition watches are available exclusively from The Hour Glass Japan and will be produced in extremely limited quantities due to the complexity of crafting the dials. The platinum model is priced at 92,000 CHF and the rose gold model is priced at 89,000 CHF .
For more information please visit Biver Watches