Biver Automatique "Echoes of this Moment" TimeForArt Unique Piece

For its first ever collaboration, Biver has partnered with Swiss artist Guillaume Ehinger to create a unique Automatique that will be auctioned in December as part of the Swiss Institute’s TimeForArt auction, the only watch auction that directly supports contemporary art around the world. The special timepiece is called “Echoes of this Moment” and it represents the true coming together of our artistic approach to watchmaking and Ehinger’s deep reflections on nature, aesthetics, and time itself.

The watch 

“Echoes of this Moment” is a unique take on the recently released Automatique, Biver’s first time-only watch. The Automatique begins with a 39mm case with arched lugs and a concave bezel, giving it a distinctive profile on the wrist while maximizing comfort. Here, it is rendered in stainless steel for the first time, instead of the usual platinum and rose gold. Not only does this make the watch significantly lighter, but it also offers a different canvas on which our expert decorators can display their skills. We decided to emphasize this by reversing the finishing styles throughout, so the tops and sides of the lugs, as well as the sides of the case, are brightly polished and the facets and bezel are brushed.

While this adds a special dynamism to the case itself, it is all ultimately in service of focusing your attention on the incredible handmade dial at the center of “Echoes of this Moment.” Developed with Ehinger and inspired by his paintings, the dial begins with a solid 18k white gold dial plate, which is hand engraved with a rippling pattern before having multiple layers of colored enamel applied on top. The result is a dial that shimmers like the surface of a lake at sunset, with the red, pink, and grey tones dancing as light hits its surface. It will never look exactly the same twice, inviting the viewer to experience and enjoy each glance as its own elusive moment.

I think a lot about scale in my work,” says Ehinger. “A great image can be read from far away and is pleasing to look at, but as you get closer it reveals more and shows you more detail. For me, working on a 39mm watch was like working on a canvas that needs to be seen from far away, so it appears small, but then if you can look very close, it needs to reward you with something more, which is why we decided to work with engraving and layered materials.”

Turning the watch over, the collaboration continues on the Calibre JCB-003 movement itself. Much of the decoration is the same as what can be found on other Automatique models, with the distinctive Clou de Paris engraving and sharply chamfered angles, but the 22k gold micro-rotor has been given a special treatment, with the name of the watch – ”Echoes of this Moment” – and Ehinger’s signature engraved, just as you might find it on one of his painting.

A cotton and Alcantara strap completes the package, along with a stainless steel pin buckle (another first for Biver). We specifically chose a strap that would be casual and comfortable, able to be worn in many situations, as we hope the owner of this watch will wear and enjoy it on a regular basis.

The story

Biver co-founder and creative director Pierre Biver first met Ehinger a few years ago through a mutual family friend – and the two hit it off immediately. They bonded over their shared love of art and design, as well as the natural beauty that surrounds both the Biver workshops in Givrins and Ehinger’s studio, just a short drive away in Vevey. The lake, the vineyards, and the open skies are shared features in their everyday lives and huge inspirations for the work that both of them do.

For this project, it was important for Biver to collaborate with a Swiss artist – especially one from the region where my father and I have spent much of the last 25 years. Guillaume’s paintings have an emotional depth and a commitment to craft that mirror the philosophy behind Biver watches. We approach the creation of each timepiece from an emotional perspective, whether it’s inspired by an abstract idea, a vision, or a memory."- Pierre Biver Co-Founder & Creative Director. 

Ehinger works in much the same way. His abstract paintings mostly focus on landscapes familiar to our region of Switzerland, represented through bold shapes, fields of color, and painterly gestures. He sometimes hints at figuration, but never fully gets there, relying on the viewer’s own memories and experiences to inform their interaction with each painting. He is fascinated by the ways we experience time and the ways certain things linger in our memories, sometimes without us even realizing it. Translating these ideas and techniques into a wristwatch was not easy, but we are tremendously proud of the results.

The details

The Automatique “Echoes of this Moment” is a unique piece and will be sold as part of the TimeForArt auction, taking place at Phillips in New York City on December 7 at 3:00 PM ET. The watch carries an estimate of $60,000-120,000 and will be available to view during the auction preview happening December 4-6 at Phillips New York (432 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022). Opening Hours are 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM each day.

Biver: a family approach to watchmaking

After 50 years at the highest echelons of the watchmaking business, Jean-Claude Biver decided to partner with his son Pierre Biver and to embark on a magnificent new adventure together. In 2023, the two passionate collectors launched a new kind of watch brand, making timepieces that push the boundaries of watchmaking art and chart a vision for the future of what high-end Swiss watchmaking can be. Liberated from the usual corporate constraints, they assembled a dream team of top specialists, each a master in their respective fields, to craft truly extraordinary timepieces without compromise. The inaugural creation, the Carillon Tourbillon, features a tourbillon, minute repeater, and a micro-rotor, holds a special place in their hearts, and they are excited now to be laying the foundation for the future of the Biver brand with the recent introduction of the anything-but-basic Automatique.

Guillaume Ehinger

Based in Vevey, Switzerland, Guillaume Ehinger is a visual artist who works mainly as a painter. He is best known for his large canvases featuring abstract compositions inspired by natural landscapes, with the organic shapes and fields of color suggesting figuration but never quite verging into direct representation. Instead, his paintings suggest fleeting moments and memories, inviting the viewer to bring his or her own interpretation and experience to each work as they encounter it. For more, follow Ehinger on Instagram at @guillaumeehinger.

TimeForArt

Following the heartwarming wave of generosity and enthusiasm from its inaugural edition in 2022, New York-based non-profit Swiss Institute has announced the second edition of TimeForArt, the first and only benefit watch auction dedicated to supporting contemporary art. The auction is to be held as part of The Phillips New York Watch Auction: XI at Phillips, as a dedicated, live session on Saturday December 7th, at 3pm EST. The auction will also be livestreamed, allowing collectors to bid in advance or in real-time online, by phone, or in person in the auction room. Visit phillips.com and timeforart.ch for more on the auction.

Technical specifications

Biver Automatique "Echoes of this Moment" 

Unique Piece for TimeForArt auction

Case

• Material : Stainless Steel
• Diameter : 39mm
• Thickness : 10mm
• Lug-to-Lug : 47.55mm
• Lug Width : 19mm
• Sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating
• Display caseback with sapphire crystal
• Water Resistance : 80 meters / 260 feet (8 ATM)

Dial and hands

• Dial : Solid 18k white gold with multiple layers of enamel
• Hands : 18k white gold, satin-finished / hand-beveled with interior angles
• Markers : None
• Created in collaboration with Guillaume Ehinger

Movement

• Calibre JCB-003
• Winding : Automatic via bi-directional 22k gold micro-rotor engraved with thewatch’s name and Ehinger’s signature; also hand-wound via the crown.
• Diameter : 30.6mm
• Thickness : 4.0mm
• Frequency : 3.5 Hz (25,200 v.p.h.)
• Number of jewels : 36
• Power reserve of 65 hours

Functions/Indications

• Hours, Minutes, Seconds
• Bi-Directional Micro-Rotor, Zero-Reset Mechanism

Strap and buckle

• Cotton and Alcantara strap, with stainless steel pin buckle.

Estimate: CHF 60'000-120'000

For more information, please visit timeforart.ch or jcbiver.com