Following her comeback victory in the Australian Open women’s singles final on Saturday, Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina wore a notable wristwatch while accepting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup as champion: the Vanguart Orb in rose gold, with a striking white rubber strap.
Made by an independent Swiss watchmaker that’s been in business less than a decade, the 41 mm Vanguart Orb is distinguished technically by its “orbital mass”—a peripheral rotor featuring a 2 mm brilliant-cut diamond that revolves around the dial to wind the movement.
With a 10.5 mm ultraslim profile, the watch also has a flying tourbillon at the 6 o’clock position, as well as an unusual crown-pusher that allows the wearer to switch between manual, automatic, and time-setting modes. The movement was designed, developed, and manufactured in-house by the watch brand.
The Vanguart Orb—which could be said to mirror Rybakina’s poise and precise, methodical style of play—retails for around 180,000 Swiss francs (approximately $230,7800) and in North America is available exclusively at high-end accessories retailer Material Good.
“What we admire in Elena is her ability to push boundaries with calm and discipline,” said Mehmet Koruturk, chairman and cofounder of Vanguart, in a statement. “This type of excellence is never improvised. It is coherent, durable, and earned over time—with great serenity when facing the highest stakes.”
By aligning with Rybakina during her historic Melbourne run this year, the boutique Swiss maison reinforces what it calls its “culture of excellence” on one of sport’s most visible stages. Founded in 2017, Vanguart carries significant industry pedigree: Its technical team includes veterans from Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi (APRP).
Rybakina defeated No. 1–ranked Aryna Sabalenka in a gritty 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 finals match at the Australian Open. She had reached the Australian Open finals in 2023 and won Wimbledon in 2022.
(Photos courtesy of Vanguart)
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