Avantist
Keeran Janin was born in Brunei in 1981, raised across Brunei and Singapore, and spent formative adult years in Geneva — where, walking down a watch boutique street with his father, he made a casual promise that would define the next decade: “One day, I’ll make you one.” He founded Avantist in Singapore in 2015. By 2017, the Sultan of Brunei had bought 50 pieces of the Golden Jubilee edition and gifted them to heads of state around the world. And the Sultan had commissioned the Le Majesté — a one-of-a-kind sapphire-cased tourbillon — for the Golden Jubilee of his own coronation. Avantist was eighteen months old.
What We Achieved
The Legend Series debuted with dials embedding actual strings from Martina Navratilova’s 1987 Wimbledon-winning racquet — 30 pieces in Grade 5 titanium, priced at £8,000 each. Navratilova embraced the collaboration personally. The Le Majesté tourbillon — sapphire case, Rub’ al Khali star-shaped carriage — was worn by the Sultan of Brunei at his Golden Jubilee. It is watched by kings.
1987 Wimbledon · Legend Series
50 Golden Jubilee Pieces
CHF 147K+ Starting Price
Origin
Keeran Janin’s background is in technology and jewellery design — both disciplines that inform Avantist’s approach to watches as designed objects rather than horological statements. He describes every Avantist watch as carrying a “warranty beyond the card” — the real warranty is the personal relationship between founder and client, maintained through the life of the piece. The founder delivers watches personally.
Design Philosophy
Every Avantist watch begins with a story — a moment in history, a person’s life, an achievement worth commemorating. The Le Majesté uses a tourbillon carriage shaped like an eight-pointed Rub’ al Khali star for the Sultan. The Legend Series embeds physical artefacts from an athlete’s defining victories. The John Mayer edition contains guitar strings. The material inside the watch is always the point, not just the material it is made from.
The Collection
Swiss-made throughout — produced with a team that includes GPHG award-winning designers and watchmakers. The La Majesté tourbillon in sapphire crystal case (44mm, 11.95mm) is the flagship. The Legend Series created tailored limited editions for specific athletes and cultural moments. The full bespoke programme creates unique pieces for clients who want a watch built entirely around their own narrative.