The Biver Carillon Minute Repeater Tourbillon Signature stands as a confluence of horological tradition and contemporary artistry. Conceived by Jean-Claude Biver and his son Pierre, this watch marks the inaugural chapter of their independent maison, established in 2023. It is not only a technical showpiece but also a statement of Biver’s vision for neo-classical watchmaking, one that reveres the past while confidently embracing the future. Today, the independent launches two new variations: Carillon Minute Repeater Tourbillon Signature Two-Tone and Carillon Minute Repeater Tourbillon Signature Titanium.
The Carillon Minute Repeater Tourbillon Signature
The Carillon Tourbillon was Biver’s first creation, launched in March 2023, and it quickly became the brand’s flagship, embodying the maison’s philosophy of blending mechanical excellence with artistic expression. The model has since evolved, with the latest Signature Series introducing more restrained, closed dials that conceal the complications beneath, offering a discreet alternative to previous openworked or stone-dial versions.
Carillon refers to a minute repeater complication that uses three hammers and gongs to chime the hours, quarters, and minutes, producing a more complex and melodious sound than traditional two-hammer repeaters. This requires precise adjustment to ensure harmonious acoustics, making it a rare and highly coveted feature.
Tourbillon, invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801, is a mechanism where the escapement and balance wheel are mounted in a rotating cage. Its original purpose was to counteract positional errors caused by gravity, especially in pocket watches. Today, the tourbillon is celebrated as a symbol of horological mastery, admired for its complexity and the skill required for its construction and regulation.
Elegance in Simplicity
The Signature Series offers dials in two principal executions: a closed dial in either a two-tone combination of titanium and rose gold or a monochrome titanium version. Previous limited editions have featured dials in black obsidian or white mother-of-pearl, both adorned with intricate guilloché patterns and baguette-cut diamond indexes.
The dials are crafted from titanium and 18-carat gold, with the option of precious stone (obsidian or mother-of-pearl) in special editions. The indexes and faceted hands are made of 18-carat white gold. The dial is subtly domed, achieved through careful applied processes, a nod to 18th and 19th-century pocket watches. This curvature enhances the interplay of light and adds depth.
The dial is elegantly restrained, with applied indexes, faceted hands, and a clean display of hours and minutes. The tourbillon is hidden beneath the dial in the Signature Series, focusing attention on the overall aesthetic rather than the complication itself.
Calibre JCB.001-B
At the heart of the Carillon Tourbillon Signature is the calibre JCB.001-B, developed in collaboration with Le Cercle des Horlogers. With a diameter of 34 mm and a thickness of 7.1 mm, the calibre uses an automatic winding via a bidirectional platinum micro-rotor, allowing for a thinner movement and uninterrupted view of the mechanism. The escapement is a steady 3 Hz (21,600 vph).
As complications, the movement features, beside the automatic system, a Carillon minute repeater (three hammers/gongs), tourbillon with a titanium cage, hours and minutes.
Every component, visible or not, is hand-finished to the highest standards. Techniques include mirror polishing, satin-brushing, straight graining, perlage, and flame-bluing. Bridges are crafted from 18K white or rose gold, with mirror-polished and straight-grained bevels. The movement’s invisible beauty is a hallmark of Biver’s approach, where even hidden parts are decorated.
Case, Bracelet, and Accessories
Available in two-tone titanium and 18K rose gold or full Grade 5 titanium, with a diameter of 42 mm and a thickness of 13.7 mm. The sapphire crystal features internal anti-reflective treatment, and the case back is also sapphire, offering a view of the movement. Water resistance is rated at 50 metres (5 ATM).
The two-tone version comes with an exclusive Biver bracelet, featuring faceted, asymmetrical links in titanium and rose gold, integrated seamlessly with the case. The titanium version is paired with a matching titanium bracelet. Both are equipped with a deployant clasp and an easy link system for precise adjustment.
Special editions have included grey Alcantara or water buffalo leather straps, chosen for their tactile qualities and durability.
Each watch can be accompanied by matching cufflinks, designed with hand-brushed gold inlays and a concave bezel reflecting the finishing codes of the watches. These are available in titanium with either white or rose gold inlays, matching the respective models.
Craftsmanship and Traditionalism in Watchmaking
The Biver Carillon Minute Repeater Tourbillon Signature is a study in horological craft and restraint. It balances technical bravura with an understated exterior, reserving the pleasure of its complications for the wearer. The hand-finishing of every component, the integration of rare complications such as the carillon minute repeater and tourbillon, and the subtle references to historical watchmaking traditions all speak to a deep reverence for the métier.
This watch is not an exercise in ostentation but a celebration of invisible mastery, a philosophy that runs through every detail, from the domed dial to the hidden tourbillon and the sonorous chimes of the carillon. The Biver Carillon Tourbillon Minute Repeater is a modern classic, embodying the values of traditional watchmaking while charting a course for the future.
Biver Carillon Minute Repeater Tourbillon Signature Two-Tone
Ref. Carillon Minute Repeater Tourbillon Signature Two-Tone
All our timepieces come with a 4-year warranty.
475,000 CHF (excl. local taxes and duties)
Functions
- Hours, Minutes
- Carillon Minute Repeater, Tourbillon
Movement
- Calibre: JCB-001-B
- Diameter : 34mm
- Thickness : 7.1mm
- Frequency : 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
- Winding : Automatic via bi-directional micro-rotor
- Power Reserve : 72 hours
- Jewels : 44
- Total Components: 374
- Every surface is hand decorated to the highest standards.
Case
- Material : Titanium & 18k Rose Gold
- Diameter : 42mm
- Thickness : 13.7mm
- Lug Width : 21.3mm
- Sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating
Display caseback with sapphire crystal - Water Resistance : 50 meters / 165 feet (5 ATM)
Dial
- Titanium and 18k gold with applied white gold chemin de fer
- Hands : 18k white gold, satin-finished / hand-beveled with four interior angles
- Markers : 18k white gold
Strap
- Two-Tone titanium & 18k rose gold bracelet
Biver Carillon Minute Repeater Tourbillon Signature Titanium
Ref. Carillon Minute Repeater Tourbillon Signature Titanium
All our timepieces come with a 4-year warranty.
475,000 CHF (excl. local taxes and duties)
Functions
- Hours, Minutes
- Carillon Minute Repeater, Tourbillon
Movement
- Calibre: JCB-001-B
- Diameter : 34mm
- Thickness : 7.1mm
- Frequency : 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
- Winding : Automatic via bi-directional micro-rotor
- Power Reserve : 72 hours
- Jewels : 44
- Total Components: 374
- Every surface is hand decorated to the highest standards.
Case
- Material : Titanium
- Diameter : 42mm
- Thickness : 13.7mm
- Lug Width : 21.3mm
- Sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating
Display caseback with sapphire crystal - Water Resistance : 50 meters / 165 feet (5 ATM)
Dial
- Titanium and 18k white gold with applied white gold chemin de fer
- Hands : 18k white gold, satin-finished / hand-beveled with four interior angles
- Markers : 18k white gold
Strap
- Titanium bracelet with titanium folding clasp
