The Firehorse dial isn’t meant to explain itself all at once. It reveals its tricks slowly, through light, motion, and time. It’s the kind of watch you might find in the back room of an old curiosity shop. Unlabeled. Slightly out of place. And gone the next time you return.
That sense of mystery is built directly into the dial. A thin slice of natural agate forms the surface, chosen for its fiery tones and natural translucence. Beneath it, a full layer of Swiss C3 Super-LumiNova uses the stone as a filter to create a true backlit effect. Floating above it all, an ancient Chinese cash coin replaces the seconds hand, borrowing from retro mystery-dial architecture to add motion and illusion.
In high horology, Lunar New Year releases are a yearly rendez-vous. A moment when watchmakers step outside their usual design language to explore one of watchmaking’s richest visual traditions, often expressed through zodiac symbolism, traditional Asian illustration, and crafts like enameling, engraving, and métiers d’art. These pieces are creative and culturally rooted, yet typically reserved for a small circle of collectors.
This year, Héron steps into that tradition with a simple belief: Lunar New Year watchmaking shouldn’t be limited to ultra-luxury brands or select client lists. The Mirabel Firehorse is our interpretation: Experimental rather than ornamental. Playful rather than precious. Designed to be worn, not kept behind glass.
A limited-edition Mirabel, with a new party trick up its sleeve.
To ensure the Mirabel had a strap worthy of a true dress watch, we sourced a premium Baranil leather strap, crafted to Héron’s exact specifications. Every detail was carefully considered to complement the elegance and refinement of the Mirabel, resulting in a strap that is both luxurious and durable.
Made from Baranil calfskin leather sourced from Tanneries Haas in France, the strap offers a supple yet structured feel, with a fine grain that catches light beautifully. Hand-stitched with linen thread and finished with sealed edges for longevity, it pairs seamlessly with the Mirabel—completing the watch with both comfort and refinement.
The Mirabel Firehorse features a solid steel, vintage-inspired medallion caseback. At its center, an engraved Firehorse motif is rendered in a brush-stroke style.
Surrounding the medallion is the inscription 马年通宝 (Mǎ Nián Tōng Bǎo), a phrase historically found on ancient Chinese cash coins, translating to “Circulating Treasure of the Horse Year.”
No two Firehorse dials are alike. Each is cut from natural agate, revealing unique waves and striations that range from fiery red to warmer, darker tones. What you see on one wrist will never be repeated on another. Beneath the translucent stone sits a full luminous layer, using the agate as a filter rather than a surface. When the light fades, the dial glows from within, its natural stripes breaking and tinting the lume for a never-before-seen backlit effect.
Overall rating: 4.8461537 / 5 from 52 reviews.
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"Picked this up at Windup NYC because--just look at it! Lovely proportions, monochrome aesthetic and full lume dial. Even the strap is very high quality. Put it on the time grapher and it runs at -1spd out of the box! Only thing i'd say is that I wish the lume on the dial stayed brighter longer...but it still lasts all night. I'll be back for other models for sure!"
"Purchased the limited edition GMT at Windup NYC October 2026. Did not come to NYC to buy a Heron but in person the dial is exquisite and sharp. The colors do represent NYC and the blue GMT arm pops. Will buy more Heron’s. They are just too good."
"Upon receiving the confirmation that my Mirabel was going to ship, I asked if it was possible to have it ship a bit faster so I could use the GMT on my vacation. It wasn't urgent, and if they said no, I would have been perfectly fine with that. However they kindly expedited my shipment getting it to me days before my departure date. Really wasn't an emergency, but they took it upon themselves to do more and turn me into a Heron devotee! Also the watch itself is really quite nice. I love the high contrast applied numerals, the excellent finishing, and supple strap. I look forward to wearing it daily on my vacation to Portugal!"
"I recently received my Heron Mirabel GMT and I could not be happier with my purchase. The watch is extremely well made and finished. It looked beautiful in the photos and videos that I saw but, frankly, it looks much, much better on the wrist. This is a superior timepiece."
"It's hard to believe that my first experience with Héron goes back almost exactly 2 years at the inaugural Toronto Timepiece Show when I had the opportunity to try on their Mirabel GMT. I immediately liked what I saw but as soon as it was on my wrist there was nothing further for me to consider. It is a perfectly executed classic design, and I would have purchased it on the spot if I could. Little did I know that it was just the prototype and I'd have to wait while it went through further refinements and tweaks which ultimately made it even better. It has now been almost a year that I've had it and it still blows me away every time it's on my wrist. WYKYK!"
"It was worth the wait, my first Heron. Good quality for the price, nice design, perfect fit. I look forward ordering my second Heron soon!"
"I’ve had this white dial version for a couple months now and it has become a regular part of my rotation. The combination of the dial, with that GMT hand, and case shape is quite stunning. It wears well on both a strap and mesh bracelet. This one is definitely a keeper."
"Amazing watch: size 8/10, build quality 8/10, bezel design 11/10. Definitely a conversation starter watch to use for special occasions or every once in a while, like a supercar."
"After some delivery issues with the Mirabel Firehorse, I was presented with the opportunity to purchase this model which I had been looking forward to since the launch but didn’t manage to buy it in time. Definitely did not let the opportunity pass and completed the purchase thanks to Adam and the Héron team, mega job. The watch definitely characterized by it’s attention to detail, good size for my small wrist. Very elegant, timeless and the color is perfect, in my opinion the best in the lineup followed by the the Cigar Club (excluding of course the Masterpiece that the Firehorse is)."
"This piece is just exceptionally well done in every respect. Classic Sector dial in a warm salmon colour with a functional party trick - the whole dial illuminates when ambient light drops. Finishing of all visible components - case and dial, sits comfortably above its price point. Even without useful complication of a true traveler's GMT, this watch would be a hit. With that complication, it represents one of the best value purchases on the market."
