By Jovan K
Berneron, the Neuchâtel outfit that made plenty of noise with the Mirage Sienne at last year’s GPHG, has returned with something altogether different. The Quantième Annuel inaugurates a new collection from the young brand, aimed squarely at the complicated calendar genre. It is their first stab at an annual calendar, a genre usually left to long-established houses. That audacious step alone sets it apart, reminiscent of how Journe balanced grande complications with more approachable pieces like the Chronomètre Bleu.
The case measures 38mm x 10mm, carved chiefly from Pt950 platinum for mass and glow. Yet Berneron resists the usual platinum fragility by integrating six removable steel elements built from 904L. Those pieces cover the high-wear areas, effectively marrying resilience to precious heft. Seems like a practical idea to ensure that the case is not a pampered safe queen, but something that can survive the years with grace.
The dial leans heavily into readability. Hours jump digitally at 12, minutes sweep centrally, small seconds tick away at 6. Day, date and month stretch left to right in oversized apertures. It is a structured, fluid arrangement across the vertical and horizontal axes that avoids the fussy clutter that so often plagues annual calendars.
Inside sits the hand-wound Calibre 595. Running at 3 Hz with 100 hours of autonomy, it separates its timekeeping and calendar trains in what the brand calls a cross architecture. Four instantaneous jumping apertures, a retrograde date and a double-barrel energy scheme ensure precision, even when five jumps trigger simultaneously on New Year’s Eve.
A Barenia leather strap ties it all together. Pricing starts at CHF 120,000 in 2026 and rises to CHF 140,000 by 2028, with only 24 pieces per color each year. Production is set for ten years, positioning the Quantième Annuel as a long term endeavor rather than a seasonal release.
