Seek your view on new Biver 3-hander

[WatchEater666]

I think if I’m going super dressy and have a high affinity for finishing, then a Voutilainen is more horological interesting given the escapement.

Like you a few of you alluded to though…I think it’s kind of hard to prioritize finishing when you can’t see the meat of it.

That’s why I love openworked watches personally. :-)

[Pw92676]

I’m content to admire from afar. Price aside, I like it.

[ajw45]

Originally Posted by FrugalGreubel

Once you get into the 100K price range I just immediately focus on something more fun/interesting. That’s where I want a Simon Brette, DeBethune, Urwerk, MB&F, etc.

Yes! I like the new Biver watch and I don't think the price is crazy for what you get but at that price you can get quality AND soul from other brands. When the watch is so conservative (generic) looking and has no apparent story or unique raison d'etre it kinda doesn't matter that it's limited or who's name is on the dial, then it just becomes a (subjective) value question and there's a lot of competition at that price.

Also, as good as the movement looks and as great as it is that dd developed it, it does feel a little less special that it wasn't developed in house and it's a base movement for future complications. IOW, they are going to ride that movement hard, slap a chrono on there, slap the PC on there, etc etc so the rarity or limited production is meaningless from a movement perspective, which then brings us back to trying to value the watch based on the dial side which is not that unique....

Honestly, I'm missing a little bit of Biver crazy in the watches so far. Maybe he feels like he needs to be conservative now so he is taken seriously in his pursuit of perfection and immortality but where's the love? I expect some crazy, some philosophy, something emotional from a watch with the Biver name on it and instead we've gotten very conservative watch making, timeless maybe, and classic, but a little cold.

[usmc_k9_vet]

Cool watches. Way out of my price range, but I will say that the stone dial does something that almost no other watch dial does for me, and that is take my imagination to a complete other place. When I look at that dial I think of a stormy ocean and some fictional story including old school pirate ships and shipwrecks. Seriously cool dial.


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[kunlun]

Pietersite is a badass material for a stone dial for sure!

[Ichiran]

[Starwalker]

Originally Posted by ChetBaker

I agree. Not impressed by the movement. Looks like a dressed up version of something that can be had much cheaper.

I think the movement architecture bears a very strong resemblance to a pf tonda micro rotor or even a Chopard LUC - both designed by Michael Parmingiani.

[rolexpatek363]

Anything associated with JCB is a no from me. Plus those prices are insane.

[Jay (Eire)]

With the greatest respect, you have far more interesting watches in your collection. I don’t see what this would add.

[MILGAUSS88]

For almost all watches, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
This watch appears to be one of the few exceptions, to me, all of its parts appear exceptional. I can't fault any one part. Even the dial that some have complained about appears to have tons of effort put into it.

But........ I don't find it attractive. It just seems like a clonglomeration of talents that created a mess when put together.

Too many chefs in the kitchen, as it were.

[Bearxj86]

I greatly enjoyed my visit this afternoon. Had lunch with the team including the Biver brothers and then proceeded to try out the watches. My understanding is the Pietersien dial is sold out already. I can see why.

Overall I really liked the pieces. They are designed to be worn at 80m with ceramic sleeves for the case. Bracelet option is top notch. Finishing is some of the best I’ve seen.

Going to sleep on it but I’ll likely order one.














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[ChetBaker]

I know one needs to see watches in the flesh before passing judgment. And I can very well see the dials being exceptional. The movement, however, I don’t immediately see the level of finishing I would expect at this price point. What were your impressions?

[Bearxj86]

Originally Posted by ChetBaker

I know one needs to see watches in the flesh before passing judgment. And I can very well see the dials being exceptional. The movement, however, I don’t immediately see the level of finishing I would expect at this price point. What were your impressions?

I do not professed to be an expert. The movement finishing looks to me as some of the best out there. As a FYI. The prototype in the pictures are in brass. However the actual final movement will be in all rose gold. Take a look here.



https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ha...#&gid=1&pid=10

[Ichiran]

Thanks for sharing your visit and these photos. I like the rose gold version.

[corky]

Just my opinion…… the dials, hands and case are very classy, proportional and
Enough differentiation to other offerings out there.
I’m not a movementologist (how often does one look at them?) however, I do appreciate technical design and innovation.

If I had the dosh, I would consider them….

[ts3]

Any time I see that new Biver I have to think of the Fleming Series 1. While they are different, including micro rotor vs manual wound and center vs sub seconds, their stories feel similar to me and they share that the movement decoration is completely over the top, at least in my eyes. Is this really pretty? For me the answer is no regardless of the quality of the finishing. Frontside I like the Biver quite a bit, both the dials and the case, whereas the Fleming does nothing for me.

[Old Expat Beast]

That dial logo looks really clumsy to me. Is there a reason why the R is so big?

[adamegret]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

That dial logo looks really clumsy to me. Is there a reason why the R is so big?

It’s a homage to JC Biver’s former brand, Blancpain, which has the same style logo.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by adamegret

It’s a homage to JC Biver’s former brand, Blancpain, which has the same style logo.

Right, but the R font size looks slightly bigger than the B.

[ajw45]

I thought the Menta YT video on this was great. Not flashy but honest.

[eggonawindow]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

Just released. Price is from CHF 75k to 121k. Movement is developed with Dubois Dépraz SA. JCB said the movement finishing is top notched. I can see sharp carvings in the photo below but will need more pics to have a better idea. Size is a sweet 39mm by 10mm.
How do you rate this watch?

https://watchesbysjx.com/2024/09/the...que.html?amp=1

Is this the three hander you bought instead of the minute repeater?
Sinking from the grandeur of Patek to this Hublot conman charlatan.
Oh how you have fallen.

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by eggonawindow

Is this the three hander you bought instead of the minute repeater?
Sinking from the grandeur of Patek to this Hublot conman charlatan.
Oh how you have fallen.

I will rise 3 days later.

[mongrelnomoad]

I like the details individually (or at least most of them), but they fail to come together in an appealing whole.

[Carguy87]

I do think the movement is beautiful; it’s tough for me to weigh in on a piece like this from a value standpoint because it’s so far beyond my means it’s tough for me to be like “yea totally worth it!” or “that’s way too much” lol. I do actually like the juxtaposition of such a simple dial and clean hands with so much detail in the movement. It’s a high value timepiece you could wear anywhere in the world and never get held up at gunpoint for while the guy next to you wearing an SS sub is constantly pulling his sleeves down lol.

I like the IYKYK factor of pieces like this for sure. Let us know if you pull the trigger Mike I love watching your collection take shape!

[adamegret]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Right, but the R font size looks slightly bigger than the B.

Now that you’ve pointed it out I can’t unsee….

[enjoythemusic]

For a three-hander no date, i wonder what the movement parts count is. Seems to me there's an abundance of bits to fabricate and polish.

[ts3]

Originally Posted by adamegret

Now that you’ve pointed it out I can’t unsee….

No need to worry.

This is just an optical illusion caused by the B slowly bending down towards the smaller I whereas the R rises abruptly after the smaller E with the serif on the roof even extending backwards towards the E.

It is best seen on the rotor where there are horizontal lines for reference.

[usmc_k9_vet]

After following this thread, reading more comments, and looking at more pics, I’ve started to realize that while I like the dials, the movement does indeed look a bit like there are just finishing techniques all over the place for the sake of packing as much in there as possible. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it all looks a bit unorganized and cluttered to me.


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[Bearxj86]

I went down to Bucherer to make a deposit on a Biver watch and had a chance to try the Sodalite minute repeater tourbillon in titanium case and bracelet. Some pics:









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[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by Bearxj86

I went down to Bucherer to make a deposit on a Biver watch and had a chance to try the Sodalite minute repeater tourbillon in titanium case and bracelet.

Congratulations. Is there a delivery ETA?