“La Danse du Temps” by Biver Watches for the Mexican SIAR Watch Salon

Pierre and Jean-Claude Biver travel to Mexico to attend the annual Salón Internacional de Alta Relojería (SIAR), where they will showcase a unique piece animated with a very Mexican theme. Held from 17-19 October in Mexico City, the father-and-son team will unveil their impressive “La Danse du Temps” Carillon Tourbillon timepiece during the SIAR. Made in collaboration with Mexican artist Joel Niño, the complicated timepiece is animated with dancing skeletons representing the traditional Day of the Dead festivities held in Mexico at the beginning of November.

When industry veteran Jean-Claude Biver and his son Pierre envisioned the launch of their family watch brand, they aimed high and centred their efforts on minute repeater complications. Their first timepiece, released in spring 2023, was a minute repeater enhanced with a carillon, regulated by a tourbillon and wound by a micro-rotor. A tall order for a fledgling brand, but with Jean-Claude’s long career in the watch industry and top-level contacts, the Biver Watches brand had no problem recruiting the best specialists in the field.

While “La Danse du Temps” shares identical specifications to the inaugural watch, the dial pays tribute to the Day of the Dead festivities. A joyful celebration to keep the memories of their loved ones alive, families visit cemeteries and prepare colourful altars in their homes with their deceased’s favourite food and drinks. The most traditional figures associated with the Day of the Dead are the calavera or skeleton and the catrina, a female skeleton dressed to the nines with a large hat with feathers. Another popular feature of the celebration is the use of papel picado, brightly coloured tissue paper with cut-out patterns used as festive banners.

All these traditional elements are represented on the dial. The domed onyx dial, for example, has a sandblasted motif that recalls papel picado. However, the pair of dancing skeletons steals the show. Expertly engraved by hand in rose gold, the catrina and the calavera dance around the aperture for the tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The curved applied hour markers, the dauphine-style hands, and the bridge are also rose gold.

Housed in a 42mm round pink gold case with a concave bezel and caseband, angular soldered lugs and a large crown, the watch is fitted with the bold articulated 5-link bracelet. The slider on the left side of the case activates the minute repeater with carillon (three hammers instead of two). The reverse side reveals the micro-rotor powering the movement, decorated with high-end finishings. Made in collaboration with Le Cercle des Horlogers, calibre JCB.001 runs at 21,600vph and delivers a robust power reserve of 72 hours.

Availability & Price

The Biver Watches “La Danse du Temps” Carillon Tourbillon is a unique piece for the SIAR, and the price, as you have probably guessed, is upon request. For more information, please consult jcbiver.com.