Sylvain Berneron — Inside the Mind of Independent Watchmaking's Most Radical Designer

Today, on Fratello Talks, we’re talking with independent watch designer and entrepreneur, Sylvain Berneron. For this special episode, Nacho and Lex are in Geneva for a chat with Sylvain. The conversation kicks off with Berneron’s career in design, his time at major watch companies, and his decision to establish his own brand. Berneron’s background is somewhat unusual for an independent watchmaker. Trained in fine arts and industrial design, he began his career at BMW before spending five years with Richemont and another five as Chief Product Officer and board member at Breitling. In September 2022, he decided to leave this comfortable scenario and create Berneron, giving him the creative freedom to explore ideas that would have been difficult to pursue within a large organization. The result was the Mirage, introduced in 2023. From the beginning, Berneron approached the watch from the movement outward, allowing the unusual asymmetrical caliber to dictate the case’s shape. The watch quickly attracted attention for that combination of mechanics, proportions, and design.