Having recently delivered the first batch of its debut model, the Mirage 38, Berneron is back with the smaller Mirage 34. Available with lapis lazuli or tiger eye dials, the watch features an organic, flowing shape and proportions based on the Fibonacci sequence.

The brainchild of founder Sylvain Berneron, a product designer who gained experience at IWC and Breitling before founding his eponymous brand, the Mirage 34 is powered by the cal. 215, a new hand-wound movement developed specifically for this model that retains its predecessor’s asymmetric shape and 18k gold bridges.

Initial Thoughts

The Mirage 34 is a striking watch. It retains the soft, melting form of its larger sibling, the Mirage 38, but adds hand-cut stone dials to the equation; lapis lazuli and tiger eye for the white and yellow gold models, respectively. If my experience wearing the Mirage 38 is anything to go on, the watch is likely to have a lot more visual wrist presence than its dimensions suggest and should have unisex appeal.

The svelte case measures 30 mm by 34 mm, and is just 7 mm thick. Visually, some of that height disappears thanks to the domed sapphire crystal; the case itself is only 5.3 mm in height. The Mirage 38 is a dream on the wrist, and I expect the Mirage 34 to wear equally well, with surprising heft for its size and a low centre of gravity.

The manually wound cal. 215 is a new design, produced for Berneron by an external supplier. It beats at an unusual 3.5 hz and runs for 72 hours, a feat that is made possible, in part, by its asymmetric main plate that provides space for a large mainspring barrel. Beyond that, it’s largely traditional in function, lacking the inverted motion works and hand stack of the larger cal. 233.

Priced at CHF51,000 for the 2026 production run, the Mirage 34 is priced aggressively. That said, Berneron’s aesthetic and philosophy have clearly resonated with collectors, with the larger Mirage 38 sold out through 2028.

Harmony of form and material

Key to the appeal of the Mirage 34, and Berneron watches in general, is the brand’s respect for materials. While the dial is made of stone, everything else, from the hands to the spring bars, is made of gold. Notably, even the main plate and bridges of the cal. 215 are made of 18k gold, giving the movement extra gravitas and the watch itself a bit of extra heft.

That said, the standout feature of the Mirage 34 is undoubtedly its stone dial. Stone dials have been having a moment of late, and we’ve recently seen new releases featuring various minerals from Piaget to Hublot and Baltic to Timex.

But a natural stone dial is arguably more sensible in the organically shaped Berneron case, the design of which is said to follow the Fibonacci sequence. The tiger eye variant is especially appealing, reading like burnished wood at first glance.

The curved graining of the mineral echos the shape of the case, and the warm tones play well together. The dial printing is minimal, which prevents the small dial from feeling overly crowded, and lets more of the mineral texture shine through.

The dials offer an unexpected degree of depth, thanks to a sub seconds dial that has been carved by hand. Stone dials are notoriously fragile and subject to cracking, and it takes a great deal of skill to achieve an outcome like this, which is just 0.40 mm thick at its thinnest point.

Inside the Mirage

Berneron’s second watch also introduces the brand’s second movement, which fortunately retains the asymmetric, golden construction of the cal. 233 found in the larger Mirage 38. The cal. 233 is produced for Berneron by Le Cercle de Horlogers, but the new cal. 215 is made by a different, unnamed supplier.

The movement’s asymmetric main plate is important for a few reasons. The first is aesthetic; it’s highly satisfying to flip the watch over and see the movement stretch corner-to-corner.

Second, it underscore’s the brand’s stated goal of using a different movement for each watch. A shaped movement is less versatile than a round movement, which is a major reason why so few brands produce them. That, and because most consumers expect watches to be round.

Finally, the extra space provides room for a larger main spring barrel than would otherwise fit, extending the power reserve to 72 hours, which is a big number for a movement that beats at 3.5 hz and is just 2.15 mm thick. For those keeping score, there’s a trade-off somewhere and it’s the size of the balance wheel, which is quite small. Perhaps as a consequence, it is not free-sprung like its larger sibling.

While I would love to see a free-sprung balance, I can understand why Berneron made these trade-offs for the Mirage 34 and they are probably the right ones for a watch like this, the appeal of which is primarily rooted in its aesthetics and wearability.

Key facts and price

Berneron Mirage 34

Diameter: 30 mm by 34 mm
Height: 7 mm
Material: 18k white or yellow gold
Crystal: Hesalite with scratch-resistant coating
Water-resistance: 30m

Movement: Cal. 215
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Winding: Hand-wound
Frequency: 25,200 bph (3.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Leather strap with matching pin buckle

Limited Edition: Yes, 24 per year in each metal over 10 years
Availability: Directly from Berneron
Price: CHF51,000 for delivery in 2026, with price rising progressively for successive years

For more, visit berneron.ch.