An Unusual Independent – Berneron

The curiosity for next-generation watches demands to be more special, more original, and more unconventional. For these reasons, independent watchmaking is more popular than ever. We are examining the Berneron brand and its Mirage model, one of the newest players in this category.

The terms micro-producer and independent brand are often confused. For these two areas, which do not have very sharp boundaries, we can roughly distinguish between brands that produce their own movements and those that procure them externally. I emphasize this criterion especially because for a manufacturer to have the technical knowledge and production capabilities to make its own movement or to access them puts it in a special class with very few manufacturers. Berneron is one of these manufacturers.

Slyvian Berneron, one of the founders of the brand, is an industrial designer. His design journey, which began at BMW Motorrad, continued in the motorcycle customization workshop he founded with his brother. Starting in 2014, Berneron began to make a name for himself in the world of watches and is currently working as a product manager at Breitling. In 2022, he established his own brand bearing his surname, taking his connection to the industry to a higher level. Sylvian's partner, Marie-Alix Berneron, shapes the future of the brand with her experience in the luxury consumption sector.

The Mirage, Berneron's first model, has an unusual asymmetry. While asymmetry is not a new concept for the watch industry, the unique lines of the Mirage model are unprecedented. In such watches, the extraordinary design of the watch is limited to visible parts (case, dial, crystal). However, Mirage succeeds in maintaining this asymmetry even in its movement. The Sienna version is made of 18-carat yellow gold, and the Prussian Blue version is made of 18-carat white gold, both with dimensions of 34mm x 38mm. The perpendicular lengths of the cases are 42mm, with a thickness of only 7mm. The visible thickness value from the side of the case is 4.9mm. Frankly, such detailed measurement sharing by the manufacturer is not something I encounter often. I commend Berneron for this meticulous approach.

The watches host the manually wound caliber CH233, designed asymmetrically. The movement, measuring 30mm x 28mm x 2.3mm, consists of 17 jewels and 135 parts. The movement, with a balance operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, places the hour hand above the minute hand. Thus, the watch's crystal can be produced with a larger curvature towards the edges due to its unusual shape. Speaking of the crystal; the front crystal is made of hesalite due to its extraordinary shape. The back, however, features a sapphire crystal. The water resistance value of the watch is stated as 30 meters. All parts of the watch containing metal, including the strap pin, are made of gold.

For a watch to be able to have Swiss Made written on its dial, at least 60% of the parts constituting that watch must be of Swiss origin. This rate is 100% for the Berneron Mirage. Twelve pieces of each of the yellow and white gold versions are produced annually, and if you place an order now, you can get your watch by the end of 2026 at the earliest. The currently produced version of the Mirage model is called the A series. The introduction of the B series will be in 2033.

The first lucky watch enthusiasts to own the Berneron Mirage were faced with a bill of 44,000 CHF + taxes. The price for the following year is 49,500 CHF + taxes. From the third to the tenth year, the price remains fixed at 55,000 CHF + taxes. The explanation for why productions in the first and second years are cheaper is as follows: We had to do something to reward the brave watch enthusiasts who trusted us and placed orders when there was nothing about the watch yet.

It is possible to talk for hours about every detail of the Berneron Mirage. Every part, from the design of the watch to its production, from its marketing to the brand's customer relations, has meticulously thought out and implemented details. Hopefully, we will encounter more such original initiatives in the future.