Our final live auction of the fall 2024 season, the New York Watch Auction: XI, takes place on December 7-8, at our Manhattan headquarters. The auction includes 180 of the world's finest watches – and though we are loath to boast, we truly think it’s one of the best catalogs we've ever put together. We'll highlight several of the most interesting lots and stories featured in the sales over the next few weeks, including the watches highlighted in this article.
– By Arthur Touchot
Biver Automatique: Crafting Heritage with a Modern, Artistic Twist
In October, I had the privilege of attending an exclusive unveiling of Biver's newest collection, the Automatique, guided by James Marks, the brand's freshly appointed CEO and a former colleague at Phillips. This new launch marked a shift for the Biver brand—a more accessible design approach without compromising the brand's original promise of high-end watchmaking.
Reflecting on the previous model, the Carillon, I was always struck by the clarity of Biver's vision. It was unapologetically ambitious in scale, price, and design—a watch that didn't shy away from its own grandeur. The Automatique, in contrast, feels like a quieter, subtler conversation. Yet it still holds true to the Biver design language: downturned lugs, a sizeable crown, applied indexes, and those exceptionally crafted dials from LM Cadrans SA.
Under Marks's stewardship, Biver seems poised for growth with new models aimed at a broader market, crafted in a more intimate, wearable format. With it, the brand can start speaking to those who seek the refinement of a collectable wristwatch without the fanfare of a grand complication.
A Refined Collection with Distinctive Appeal
The new Automatique collection offers a more accessible entry point into the world of Biver. Prices start at CHF 75,000 for the standard models in 18k rose or white gold and reach CHF 121,000 with the optional bracelets for the exclusive Atelier dials in sanded Obsidian or Pietersite (and the quality and modern design of these bracelets is quite impressive!)
With a 39mm diameter and a 10mm profile, the watch has a striking presence, yet the downturned lugs give it a graceful profile, one that sits comfortably on my 7-inch wrist.
The Automatique retains Biver's hallmark attention to detail, with hand-beveled white or rose gold hands and anthracite-finished applied hour markers. But the star, as always, is the movement. This time, we are introduced to the proprietary calibre JCB-003. Running at 3.5Hz and boasting a generous 65-hour power reserve, this micro-rotor movement steals the show — much like a talented actor who quietly elevates every scene they're in.
With just 86 pieces (so far) across metals and Atelier dials, the Automatique collection manages to offer diverse options within an exclusive line and the plan is to keep growing it with that objective in mind. Collectors are already asking for a yellow-gold model.
"Echoes of This Moment": A Singular Creation for TimeForArt
While the core collection already exudes individuality, a piece within the Automatique lineup stands apart in every way — "Echoes of This Moment" — a unique piece created for the upcoming TimeForArt auction at Phillips in New York. TimeForArt is an initiative that seeks to bridge the worlds of contemporary art and watchmaking, with proceeds benefiting emerging artists. It's a perfect stage for Biver, a brand deeply committed to craftsmanship and creativity.
For this one-of-a-kind Automatique—estimated at $60,000 to $120,000—the Bivers commissioned a very special dial crafted from white gold and meticulously hand-engraved with an organic texture that evokes the ripples of a lake or the surface of a distant planet.
Made in collaboration with Swiss artist Guillaume Ehinger, "Echoes of This Moment" captures a sense of impermanence and beauty inspired by nature. Multiple layers of enamel in striking shades of red, pink and grey lend a shimmering depth to the dial, creating a visual effect that shifts with the light. In an unexpected yet harmonious choice, there are no applied indexes or brand markings on the dial—only pure, unadulterated artistry.
It's worth noting that this unique Automatique is the first to be housed in a stainless-steel case, a deliberate choice to balance the dial's artistic vibrancy. Through the sapphire case back, you'll find the JCB-003 calibre, with its 22k gold micro-rotor engraved with the watch's name and the artist's signature—a small yet significant touch that reinforces the project's personal, collaborative spirit.
Artistic Interpretation Meets Timeless Craftsmanship
What strikes me most about "Echoes of This Moment" is its captivating simplicity. In some ways, it contradicts the brand's previous efforts by paring back any extraneous details. Ehinger's dial work here feels akin to the meditative practice of observing nature, encouraging the wearer to find beauty in the transient beauty of our surroundings.
Let's see what happens on Dec 7, when the watch faces the market. But whatever number the hammer eventually falls on, "Echoes of Time" will be remembered for serving as a testament to Biver's belief in the power of artistic collaboration, and I expect the Automatique will become the canvas of many exciting projects for the nascent but already innovative Biver brand.
You can learn more, place a bid, and view the entire Phillips New York Watch Auction: XI catalog right here.
About Phillips In Association With Bacs & Russo
The team of specialists at PHILLIPS Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo holds the world record for the most successful watch auction, with its Geneva Watch Auction: XIV having realized $74.5 million in 2021. Over the course of 2021 and 2022, the company sold 100% of the watches offered, a first in the industry, resulting in the highest annual total in history across all the auction houses at $227 million.
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