Dancing with time

One of the most poetic things about time is that it marches on whether we are paying attention or not. You can watch the steady beat of a seconds hand around a watch dial or you can daydream gazing off at the sunset – time flows by all the same. A beautiful watch can make this passage more enjoyable, serve as a reminder to treasure each moment, and motivate us to make the most of each second. These are the ideas that animate our latest creation.

The Carillon Tourbillon “La Dernière Danse,” or “The Last Dance,” is equal parts technical mastery and artistic expression, combining the two disciplines that define Biver’s approach to watchmaking. It is the latest in a line that includes the Carillon Tourbillon Phoenix, Catharsis, and Echoes of this Moment, each of which begins with an interpretation of time itself and then translates that expression into metal and stone through the brilliant work of our master craftspeople.

“By nature, the minute repeater is a complication that I would consider more romantic,” saysco-founder and creative director Pierre Biver. “We love creating watches that showcase the artisanal talents of our designers and craftsmen, including techniques such as enamel, stonework, and engraving, amongst others.”

With La Dernière Danse, everything radiates out from the dial, which is made of bloodstone, a unique mineral that combines dark green quartz with flecks of orange and red jasper. This gives the stone a unique texture that is amplified when it is polished, offering more detail and variation the closer you look. The stone itself is complemented by applied white gold markers and two white gold calaveras, or skeletons, inspired by Mexican culture and representing the celebration of life itself. These skeletons take more than eight days for a master engraver to shape by hand and they are shown in festive attire, lifting their arms into the sky in a celebratory dance.

These skeletons also frame the tourbillon at six o’clock, offering a glimpse of the watch’s more technical side. In addition to this tourbillon, the Calibre JCB.001-A also features a carillon minute repeater. In order to create the best sound profile possible, La Dernière Danse utilizes a titanium case which also has the added benefit of complementing the warm hue of the white gold skeletons themselves. It also makes the watch quite comfortable on the wrist.

Each of these elements is special on its own, from the hardstone dial to the hand-engraving to the incredible watchmaking, but it is when they come together that they really shine. La Dernière Danse embodies Biver’s unique perspective on watchmaking art, employing these classical watchmaking techniques in fresh ways with the goal of bringing new ideas to life. “Watches like these also serve to inspire our clients,” continues Pierre Biver. “They see what we can achieve today and envision what they might want to create with us in the future.”