Biver AB: First Steel, Manually Wound Watch
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Biver has introduced the AB, a manually wound watch in stainless steel, with coverage published on October 16, 2026. Fratello’s report is by Ben Hodges, and Hodinkee’s is by Mark Kauzlarich; SJX Watches also covered the release. According to Hodinkee, the Biver AB is priced at CHF 68,000, around $80,000, and is available now. SJX Watches lists the same CHF 68,000 figure before taxes and says buyers can purchase directly from Biver or at authorised retailers. Hodinkee adds that the price is about $20,000 below the entry example of the previous model.
A Compact Steel Case
Fratello reports the AB is Biver’s first stainless steel watch, developed in response to customer demand, and the brand’s most compact watch to date. Biver Watches was founded by Jean-Claude Biver and his son Pierre and launched in 2023, according to Fratello. Fratello lists the case dimensions as 38 × 9.8mm; SJX Watches separately gives a 38mm diameter and a 9.8mm height. Most case surfaces have a satin finish with hand-beveled edges. Sapphire crystals protect both sides, and water resistance is 80 meters, as Hodinkee and SJX Watches report. SJX Watches notes the case and bracelet are steel while the dial and movement are solid gold.
Movement And Finishing
The AB is a manual-wind, three-hand watch, according to SJX Watches, with hours, minutes, seconds, and power reserve. Its movement is the manually wound JCB-004. Hodinkee says it was developed in collaboration with Le Cercle des Horlogers, while SJX Watches credits Le Cercles des Horlogers. Hodinkee reports the movement is proprietary to Biver and only available to the brand unless licensed out. It uses twin barrels and has a 120-hour power reserve. It is not chronometer certified. The mainplate and bridges are PD210 white-gold alloy with higher palladium content; there is no nickel or rhodium plating. SJX Watches describes the bridges as frosted and unplated. Finishing includes circular graining, sandblasting, mirror polishing, and exposed hand-finishing, with barrel ratchet wheels grained and polished. Fratello reports the finishing follows the same standard as the brand’s Carillon Tourbillon and Automatique models, and that a single watchmaker oversees assembly from start to finish. Pulling out the crown instantly resets the small-seconds hand to zero.
Dial, Bracelet, And Wearability
Fratello describes a 2N yellow-gold dial with a fine-grained black DLC coating. Hodinkee lists yellow gold 2N with black DLC and an onyx outer ring. SJX Watches says the dial is almost entirely black onyx and built in three levels, with the hour chapter ring highest, the seconds register recessed deepest, and gold markings vapour-deposited onto the onyx. The hour markers are 18k yellow gold 2N applied using a metallisation technique, according to Hodinkee; Fratello calls them 2N gold hour markers applied by metallization and notes an onyx railroad minute track applied the same way. The small seconds sits at 6 o’clock. The power-reserve indicator sits beneath 12 o’clock, arcing between 11 and 1 with a miniature 2N gold pointer, according to Fratello. Hodinkee describes an aperture on the dial with a pin that moves left to right as the watch is wound, while SJX Watches places a gold pin inside a narrow, arc-shaped window just over the Biver logo. The hands are Dauphine-style in 18k yellow gold. Hodinkee notes there is no lume.
The lug width is 19mm, and the bracelet width is also 19mm. SJX Watches lists a stainless steel bracelet. Fratello describes a trapezoidal motif that omits a traditional end link and uses quick-release spring bars. Hodinkee reports a patented micro-adjust activated by two push buttons. The watch is supplied with a Bahia calf leather strap and steel buckle, with Fratello also noting the included Bahia calfskin strap.
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FAQ
What movement dimensions and jewel count does the Biver AB use?
Hodinkee reports the JCB-004 measures 29.6mm in diameter and 4.6mm thick and uses 32 jewels. It runs at 3 Hz, or 21,600 beats per hour, according to Hodinkee and SJX Watches.
Is the Biver AB a limited edition, and what warranty does it carry?
Hodinkee states that the AB is not a limited edition and carries a four-year warranty. That source also lists availability as now.
