Introducing the Berneron Quantième Annuel, a platinum annual calendar reimagined for clarity, ease, and innovation. Price: CHF 120,000
Berneron, the young independent brand that made its mark with the Mirage Sienne — winner of the Audacity Award at the 2024 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) — is now presenting a new collection, Quantième, debuting with its first model, the Quantième Annuel.
With this collection, the Neuchâtel-based brand sets out to explore the realm of complex watchmaking and, in particular, to redefine the standards of complicated calendars while establishing a platform for future innovations.
After two years of research and development, Berneron’s first creation under this line, powered by the new calibre 595, introduces a series of thoughtful solutions designed to improve the everyday usability of an annual calendar.
Readability comes first: the dial has been reimagined with a fluid, top-to-bottom reading of the jumping hours at 12 o’clock, central sweeping minutes, and small seconds at 6 o’clock, along with a clear left-to-right sequence for day, date, and month. Enlarged apertures and a structured layout enhance clarity at a glance.
Ease of adjustment was another priority. Instead of lengthy and error-prone setting procedures, the Quantième Annuel embraces a “less time setting than winding” philosophy.
Time and date are adjusted via the crown as in any conventional watch, while discreet pushers on the case band control the day and month.
Finally, a built-in safety mechanism addresses one of the greatest frustrations with traditional calendar watches: the risk of damage during incorrect adjustments.
If an error occurs, the movement automatically resets to the correct date sequence. For example, if you activate the month corrector on 31 January, the watch will jump to 1 February instead of to the non-existent 31 February.
The Berneron Quantième Annuel is housed in a 38 mm x10 mm case crafted primarily from Pt950 platinum, which makes up 85% of its total mass.
To enhance durability, a thin layer of 904L steel has been applied to the contact surfaces (15% of the mass).
This layer is built from six separate components, each removable and replaceable over the lifetime of the watch. The result is the best of both worlds: the resilience of steel in everyday wear, combined with the weight and lustre of platinum.
At its heart beats the new hand-wound calibre 595, operating at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) with a power reserve of 100 hours.
Distinguished by its innovative “cross architecture”, the movement separates its regulating systems, one for timekeeping, the other for the calendar, and drives an impressive display composed of four instantaneous jumping apertures, two sweeping hands, and one retrograde date.
Managing energy was one of the greatest technical challenges of the project. On occasions such as midnight on 31 December, the movement must execute as many as five jumps simultaneously.
To achieve this, Berneron developed a double-barrel construction that stores and releases energy across four cycles — 12 hours, 24 hours, 7 days, and 31 days — ensuring both precision and reliability.
Protecting the movement from shocks and UV exposure, the officer’s-style caseback, inspired by traditional pocket watches, also offers a surface that can be personalised with engraving.
Water-resistant to 30 metres / 100 feet, the watch is paired with a Barenia leather strap.
The Berneron Quantième Annuel will be offered at a preferential price during its first years of production, starting at CHF 120,000 (excl. VAT) in 2026, rising to CHF 130,000 in 2027 and CHF 140,000 in 2028. Deliveries will commence in October 2026 at a rate of 24 pieces per colour per year, with production planned over a 10-year period. berneron.ch
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