ReviewFrederique Constant Strikes A Chord With ‘The Avener’ For A Limited-Edition Highlife Automatic

We’ve seen watches made in collaboration with painters, architects, designers, and even famous personalities. Each collaboration brings with it a special significance, which may be of the obvious kind with the sort of personalities listed above. However, with a musician, the canvas is wide open, and that’s what the Highlife Automatic X The Avener takes advantage of.

The Swiss watchmakers Frederique Constant and French musician and producer, The Avener announced their collaboration in 2022. Now, we have this gorgeous timepiece, limited to 432 units, featuring the Highlife collection’s signature integrated-bracelet silhouette.

Spinning Tracks And Gears: What Powers The Highlife Avener

The timepiece offers the classic silhouette of the Highlife, which has proven to be a crowd favourite from among Frederique Constant’s arsenal. Measuring 39mm in width, and with a thickness of 10.34mm, the steel watch features polished and brushed surfaces

The three-link integrated bracelet is a classic in the Highlife collection, which undoubtedly adds to the appeal of the watch. The bracelet comes an integrated quick-release system for effortless interchangeability. With the sleek execution and elegance this watch offers, it’s clear among watch enthusiasts that there aren’t many better options in the price range that the Highlife sits in.

The timepiece offers the classic silhouette of the Highlife, which has proven to be a crowd favourite from among Frederique Constant’s arsenal. Measuring 39mm in width, and with a thickness of 10.34mm, the steel watch features polished and brushed surfaces

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The open caseback shows the FC-303 calibre. The gold-coloured rotor, which also showcases Frederique Constant’s engraving, delivers energy to the barrel, which has a power reserve of 38 hours

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The execution is further highlighted with their in-house calibre that powers the watch, the FC-303 calibre, which is visible through the caseback. The gold-coloured rotor, which also showcases Frederique Constant’s engraving, delivers energy to the barrel, which has a power reserve of 38 hours. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800vph and is equipped with 26 jewels. Overall, a decent movement with a practical power reserve makes sure the mechanics match up to the gorgeous aesthetics of the watch.

The watch is limited to 432 pieces, which isn’t just a random number. In music, 432Hz is regarded as the best frequency, and is said to deliver calm and harmony

The Avener Connection: The Distinguishing Details

The watch comes with myriad details that relate to French musician, The Avener, and they all add up to make this watch the delight that it is. Not only is the base of this watch, with the Highlife collection, such a hit in itself, the details—such as the shade of the soundwaves being the same one used on the cover of The Avener’s first album—make it more interesting.

The biggest difference between this collaboration and the rest of the Highlife collection is undoubtedly the music-inspired design in the dial. While the rest of the pieces usually feature the traditional globe pattern, what we see here is dark blue sonic wave pattern traversing the dial.

The biggest difference between this collaboration and the rest of the Highlife collection is undoubtedly the music-inspired design in the dial

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Thanks to the uncluttered dial, the focus very clearly goes on the sound wave pattern that adorns the dial, and with the message it puts out there

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Above the date window at six is an inscription, ‘a tempo’, which is meant to remind musicians to regain a normal tempo after a fast or slow segment. The watch features applied indexes and polished hands filled with a black Super-LumiNova.

Thanks to the uncluttered dial, the focus very clearly goes on the sound wave pattern that adorns the dial, and with the message it puts out there. The watch is limited to 432 pieces, which isn’t just a random number. In music, 432Hz is regarded as the best frequency, and is said to deliver calm and harmony. The watches are numbered, the limited-edition number of your piece is mentioned in the caseback.

Overall, the timepiece offers the brilliant design of the Frederique Constant highlife, an aesthetic that has already proven to be quite the hit, thanks to its versatility. The case size fits in well with what’s working in the market nowadays, with smaller watches on the rise. The integrated case and bracelet look has always been an eye-catching one, no questions there.

The details that differentiate this watch can end up being a reminder to take it easy. Add some music into your life, and operating at a normal frequency is necessary, even if it’s just for a little while. Missing that deadline won’t kill you.