When I made my way to Fleurier, discovering L'Atelier Bernard was not what I expected. Bernard is a fairly outdated first name that is rarely heard among young people in French-speaking European countries. So when I pushed open the door of their workshop in Fleurier, I expected to meet two old Swiss gentlemen. Well… not quite. Nestled between Vaucher Manufacture and Parmigiani Fleurier, in the shadow of Kari Voutilainen's legendary Chapeau de Napoléon studio, two atypical, young Belgian watchmakers are forging something unusual. They produce watches entirely by hand in their own apartment workshop in Fleurier that surprise and delight with their originality.
Van Ormelingen and Braboretz, two Belgian watchmakers in their mid-20s, both named Bernard, have a rather unusual career. L'Atelier Bernard was not born out of a business plan. It was born out of a shared passion for watchmaking and traditional crafts. Bernard van Ormelingen (27) trained as a watchmaker at the Institut d'Art et de Technique in Namur, Belgium, before working at Jaeger-LeCoultre in Le Sentier. At an early age, alongside his studies, he developed a passion for guilloche – the art of hand-engraved loquetting. He started doing commissioned work for various brands. He eventually bought the guilloche lathe from his first teacher, expanded his collection of machines, and eventually stored and rented them in Les Verrières, Switzerland. The other Bernard, Bernard Braboretz (26), is self-taught. He started in smaller workshops near Belgium's famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit, gradually acquiring his own watchmaking tools, hand-crafting components and honing his craft without formal training.
Meeting in Belgium, they soon began brainstorming ideas for their first watch together, which eventually led them to settle in Fleurier, right in the heart of the cradle of Swiss watchmaking. With a philosophy that is clear, conscious and uncompromising.
As the two Bernards explained to Robin in his recent interview: “From the beginning, we decided that each watch would be designed and finished entirely by us, without compromising on quality, construction or aesthetics. From the first sketches to the final adjustment of the balance wheel, everything would be done by both of us. No concessions, no delegation of essential savoir-faire to machines and no multiplication of suppliers. The only elements in the movement that are not made by us, for example, are the mainspring, die The hairspring and the jewels were made by ourselves and manufactured with discipline and absolute care at every stage. From the first sketches to the final adjustment of the balance wheel, we made no compromises. The only parts of the movement that are not made by us, for example, are the mainspring, the hairspring and the jewels. Only six watches are made slowly, with the utmost care, precision and full personal responsibility in every single phase.
The owl clock
Their debut watch, nicknamed “The Owl,” is a limited edition of just six pieces – three each year in 2026 and 2027 – all entirely handcrafted, from the movement plate to the bridge, by the two Bernards themselves in their workshop apartment in Fleurier.
At first glance, the design of L'Atelier Bernard The Owl is similar to what other young, independent watchmakers often impress today: a striking openwork architecture without a dial, an inverted movement and richly layered, three-dimensional stepped bridges that draw the eye to the mechanics. Two large, symmetrical, hand-guilloche barrels dominate the upper dial, reminiscent of the eyes of an owl, while a large balance wheel floats above the main plate.
A closer look at the watch and the movement reveals many truly original and sophisticated details. The case itself features a slanted profile, a 12 o'clock crown, square lugs and a cool, ultra-domed sapphire crystal that offers a compelling view of the movement and its slowly beating control organ from different angles. The time is indicated by flame-blued hands on a sapphire ring. Another nod to early pocket watches: a short pin at the end of the gun pinion keeps it securely in place. Handcrafted finishes – including raw matt finishes on raw nickel silver and stunning concave bevels – give the watch a character that feels handcrafted and vibrant. Another nice detail is the old-fashioned parachute (anti-shock device) on top of the balance bridge.
A revised duplex escapement
One element that really sets The Owl apart is its escapement. Apparently two Belgian watchmakers couldn't bring themselves to use a Swiss anchor escapement! Instead, the watch uses a duplex escapement, a historic mechanism with roots in pocket watches of the early 18th and 19th centuries. It is no longer used because it requires extremely tight tolerances, is sensitive to shock, and requires careful lubrication.
Essentially, a duplex escapement uses two sets of teeth alternately, eliminating the need for a separate pallet fork. A set of horizontal teeth performs the locking function, while a second set of vertical teeth transmits the impulse to the balance wheel. Although elegant in concept, this direct impulse inhibition requires robust torque and careful regulation; Hence the massive double barrels, which deliver around 45 hours of power despite a slow beating frequency of 1.5 Hz.
A safety rake and counterweight mechanism prevent the watch from overwinding if the watch experiences a shock. The escape wheel is a monoblock, which seems to be quite a challenge to produce precisely. The variable inertia balance is cut and consists of three parts. The hairspring features a Breguet hairspring.
When you turn the watch over, the aesthetics match the front perfectly. The first thing that catches the eye, however, is an oversized wheel that drives the gear train to the escapement, a choice determined by the torque required for the escapement. The work on the escapement is truly the heart of watchmaking, so it's even more impressive to benefit from such young watchmakers.
Availability and price
L'Atelier Bernard The Owl is an excellent watch and a promising insight into what to expect from the young duo. With just six pieces making it into the hands of collectors in 2026 and 2027, Atelier Bernard is a name to watch in contemporary independent watchmaking.
As I said, only six of The Owl will be made. The price is CHF 150,000 excluding VAT taxes. For more details please visit @l_atelier_bernard on Instagram and read Robin's interview with them here.
https://monochrome-watches.com/l-atelier-bernard-watches-story-two-young-belgian-indie-watchmakers-review-the-owl-watch-duplex-escapement/