Sylvain Berneron, product manager of Breitling, one of the top 10 watch brands in the world, convinced his boss and got this chance. Breitling CEO Georges Kern also supported it becoming an independent watch manufacturer.
The thing that people who have a dream of their own complain about most is time. Since most people spend their energy on work, they have no time for their dreams, and one day that dream will be forgotten and wasted in drawers or in the back rooms of the mind. What would you do if your boss supported you in achieving your dreams?
Sylvain Berneron, product manager of Breitling, one of the top 10 watch brands in the world, convinced his boss and got this chance. Breitling CEO Georges Kern also supported it becoming an independent watch manufacturer. Berneron also founded a watch brand as a side business. It is a company that has no employees other than himself and his wife, but the first model, which was found fascinating with its original design and 2.30 mm thin asymmetrical mechanism, blew the minds of enthusiasts as soon as it was announced.
Most micro brands do not even attempt to produce their own movements, at least not initially unless an experienced watchmaker is involved. The reason is simple, mechanism means another dimension. Neither the dial nor the hands nor the mastery in the case design world can even come close to the movement universe. But how did Sylvain Berneron, who designed a unique mechanism, get to this point?
Industrial designer and motocross racer Sylvain Berneron began his career as an intern at BMW at the age of 19. Because his ideas were so appreciated, he worked at BMW as a motorcycle designer for the next few years. (As a hobby, he has built a special motorcycle, which he named Tzar, based on the Suzuki GSX1200 Inazuma model.) When his work attracted interest, he established his own studio with his brother and designed special models for corporate brands such as BMW, Ducati, and personal demands.
Berneron, who has always been interested in watches, turned to watch design in 2014. He designed watches for IWC for a while. Now he works as a product manager at Breitling. Berneron founded his own brand in 2022 when he was 34 years old, and he works for himself in the evenings, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
His wife, Marie-Alix Berneron, studied business administration. He worked in product development in Chanel's watchmaking department. Meanwhile, since he was interested in architecture, he went to university again and received a diploma in this field. Marie-Alix, who supports her husband Sylvain in the development of Berneron, contributes to graphics, design, and brand vision.
Berneron's Mirage model, which is seen as a combination of art and technique, has two versions, one in white gold Prussian Blue and the other in yellow gold Sienna. An extremely rare feature, the movement follows the shape of the asymmetrical case. In both models, except for a few necessary parts, almost all of the parts that make up the watch are made of solid gold. Berneron Mirage watches, contributed by movement manufacturer Le Cercle de Horlogers, will be produced at a rate of 24 per year for only 10 years. Meanwhile, the 2024 and 2025 watches have been sold, and orders are being taken for 2026.
Good luck to those who are curious and have dreams.
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