This clarity of purpose earned Biver a place within Bucherer Masterworks, our curated stage for the most exceptional executions of high horology. Within Masterworks, technical virtuosity, artisanal depth, and creative identity are the defining criteria.

The Automatique, released in 2024, was conceived as the most distilled form of the Biver aesthetic. Pierre describes it as “the purest articulation of what we want Biver to stand for – a watch that is both serene and intense, classical in its structure but contemporary in its emotion.” From this foundation, the brand began to explore more expressive territory through the Automatique Atelier Series, a capsule collection characterized by limited pieces with unique stone dials.  Within this expanded landscape, the new Biver Automatique Mahogany Obsidian is one of the most noteworthy additions. 

Mahogany obsidian, formed from volcanic glass, contains swirling black and rust-colored shifts that appear to move as light travels across the surface. The choice of stone was a deliberate way of introducing texture, motion, and warmth into a watch defined by clean geometry and disciplined design. Pierre describes the appeal, “Mahogany Obsidian fascinated me because it holds contradiction within it. It is strong yet warm, structured yet organic. When polished, the stone reveals movement and depth that almost feels alive. That duality speaks directly to our design philosophy: emotional materials elevated through extreme precision. The stone also has an inherent dignity. It doesn’t shout; it breathes.” 

The stone sits within a 39mm 18k 5N rose gold round case whose concave and convex surfaces, coupled with contrasting brushed and polished finishes, define the Automatique’s silhouette and style. The applied 18k rose gold hour markers, hand-beveled hands, and minute track ring complement the dial’s tones, while a second ring positioned toward the center creates a charming concentric-circle layout. The warm metal emphasizes the dial’s richness without overwhelming its natural pattern. 

Though the Atelier Series allows Biver to be more creative, the design and technical fundamentals of the Automatique remain consistent. “Experimentation is important to us,” Pierre explains. “But it has to be anchored in discipline. We always start with the rules of the Automatique and then ask: How far can we stretch this without losing the DNA?” The Mahogany Obsidian model explores that boundary without disrupting the structure that defines the collection. 

Inside the watch is the impressive Calibre JCB-003-A, developed with Dubois Depraz as the mechanical foundation for the brand’s future. The movement is wound by a 22k rose gold micro-rotor and delivers a 65-hour power reserve. A zero-reset mechanism allows precise time-setting, and the hand-finished bridges, plates, and anglage form an architectural backdrop visible through the sapphire caseback. Even the wheels are color-matched to the case metal. A Clous de Paris guilloché pattern applied to select surfaces adds another layer of decorative richness. The movement was clearly engineered to perform impeccably and to be appreciated visually. 

The Automatique Mahogany Obsidian is delivered on a brown Alcantara strap that complements the stone’s deeper tones and lends the watch a softer, more relaxed style. A very different character emerges when the watch is fitted with the optional five-link 18k rose gold Biver bracelet. The angled, sculpted bracelet links mimic the shape of the lugs, creating a continuous line of metal that gives the Automatique a stronger, more architectural look. 

There is also a subtle personal note within the design. Pierre has spoken openly about his lifelong love of backgammon, and the watch’s warm palette echoes the natural woods found in high-end boards. “I wasn’t consciously thinking of backgammon when we chose the stone,” he says, “but looking at the final result, I see it. That same warmth, that same sense of natural sophistication, is there.” It’s a reminder that watches, even when approached with technical discipline, inevitably carry pieces of the people who create them. 

The Automatique Mahogany Obsidian shows how Biver continues to shape its identity through meaningful materials and uncompromising craft. It fits naturally within Bucherer Masterworks, where originality and technical rigor guide every selection. For Biver, it marks another step in building a modern vocabulary of high watchmaking. For collectors, it offers a compelling demonstration of how a new independent, guided by two generations of perspective, can create something genuinely distinctive.