Seek your view on new Biver 3-hander

[Bearxj86]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

Congratulations. Is there a delivery ETA?

April/May 2025 however I heard that some may start as early as Dec 2024.

All watches are already presold directly to collectors and ADs. Depending on who you ask these have/will sell out quickly. If you want a piece I suggest you reach out to the closest AD as soon as possible.

My personal opinion is these match up well against the 60k to 120k CHF range of independents. The stone dial versions are insane. Biver does not pretend to be an average independent as they are well capitalized and the expectations are higher. Movement is built to be serviced forever. This is not some paycheck to paycheck independent trying to make a living; rather it is a industry legend that is trying to build a generational family business.

You have to like the aesthetic and "more is more" finishing as well as the engineering choices that make it what it is:
1) 80M WR (a big deal to me for a daily)
2) Ceramic inserts and titanium springbars for over-engineered bars. Short note - i learned from them that if you use steel spring bars on a gold/platinum cases and wear it daily, the spring bars will deform the case in 5 years.
3) White gold movement (this is a real subtle flex)- white gold will also allow a better shine and the finish to look 20% better than the brass prototype.
4) Stop centers complication is a nice add

The brushed rose gold dial is my favorite of the non-stone dials.

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by Bearxj86

April/May 2025 however I heard that some may start as early as Dec 2024.

All watches are already presold directly to collectors and ADs. Depending on who you ask these have/will sell out quickly. If you want a piece I suggest you reach out to the closest AD as soon as possible.

My personal opinion is these match up well against the 60k to 120k CHF range of independents. The stone dial versions are insane. Biver does not pretend to be an average independent as they are well capitalized and the expectations are higher. Movement is built to be serviced forever. This is not some paycheck to paycheck independent trying to make a living; rather it is a industry legend that is trying to build a generational family business.

You have to like the aesthetic and "more is more" finishing as well as the engineering choices that make it what it is:
1) 80M WR (a big deal to me for a daily)
2) Ceramic inserts and titanium springbars for over-engineered bars. Short note - i learned from them that if you use steel spring bars on a gold/platinum cases and wear it daily, the spring bars will deform the case in 5 years.
3) White gold movement (this is a real subtle flex)- white gold will also allow a better shine and the finish to look 20% better than the brass prototype.
4) Stop centers complication is a nice add

The brushed rose gold dial is my favorite of the non-stone dials.

Good points and congratulations on your BiveR , I like the guy and what he has done for Hublot and even few Zenith Defy 21 etc last stints at LVMH.

Rolex has been using Gold spring bars on precious metals since ages and explains that logic.

I have a feeling BiveR brand wont survive even next decade hope I am proved wrong but thats my opinion.

Nice watch but no soul or history.

[Bearxj86]

Originally Posted by rajurama

Good points and congratulations on your BiveR , I like the guy and what he has done for Hublot and even few Zenith Defy 21 etc last stints at LVMH.

Rolex has been using Gold spring bars on precious metals since ages and explains that logic.

I have a feeling BiveR brand wont survive even next decade hope I am proved wrong but thats my opinion.

Nice watch but no soul or history.

Just like any independent, their survival is questionable. I think as they release their chronograph and QP we'll see how they last. What I do know is they are going "all-in" with the family money.

My visit to them was very memorable and as I live 10 mins drive away from their manufacture during my expat stay here in Switzerland, this piece I am ordering is one that commemorates my stay and also the friendship and relationships i have built with the Bivers and the Geneva watch community.

[kunlun]

@bearx86 thanks for everything here, your hands on experience has really made the discussion.

As for discussions of soul, I think this is usually just a desire to have the dream of a single watchmaker's inspiration. I think how a watch's design moves us is more important that the story behind it. After all, by the current idea, no vintage Patek would have soul, the designers are both anonymous and multiple, yet some really sing to me, others not at all in spite of their esteem among collectors.

[Bearxj86]

For me, the Biver brand and its watches has soul. I will agree that upon first glance especially with how they started the brand, you could make such a claim. However if you meet the family and experience the watch in person, you get it.

Here's a recent interview that probably tells the story a bit more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLcng0HIaVY&t=1660s

[dchang81]

That's what I like about MBF is that they try to make things that besides the crazy crystals, anyone can service their watches. Just curious about the steel bars in gold cases wearing it out. I know it's posted that like metals should be used but I really haven't seen any actual photos of rounded out lug holes when I was trying to search. I think omega supplies steel bars in their PM watches but others like lange put in the inserts

[SoylentGreenChi]

I like the watch, particularly the case design and movement finishing. The logo font does seem a bit off to me, as said on thread already. In terms of brand sustainability: I find the interviews with the son, Pierre Biver, to be compelling. He is knowledgeable, thoughtful and measured. It looks like they could have a fabulous leader in place when the founder steps aside, and that’s a big factor in organizational sustainability.

[Bearxj86]

Thought I would share a recent picture of one of the watches on the bracelet. I found this one on IG particularly striking…




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[Ichiran]

Tried all of them at IAMWATCH and my favorite is the Obsidian dial. It looks fantastic in the metal. The 2nd pic below is rose gold. If I get it will be the Obsidian one. The hand-finishing on the movement is sublime.

[mongrelnomoad]

With exposure, they’re really growing on me.