Tennis player Elena Rybakina spotted wearing a Vanguart

Elena Rybakina, the 2026 US Open champion, made a striking appearance at the tournament wearing the Vanguart Orb in pink ceramic and titanium—a 41mm haute horlogerie timepiece that exemplifies contemporary watchmaking innovation. The sighting marks a rare public outing for one of the brand's most technically ambitious recent releases, positioning the Orb as a statement piece for elite athletes who value mechanical complexity alongside wearability.

The Vanguart Orb, launched in 2024, houses a flying tourbillon movement visible through its extensively open-worked dial and caseback. At just 10.5mm thick, the case belies the engineering density within: the movement features Vanguart's signature function selector—a user-accessible complication that allows the wearer to switch between manual winding, automatic winding, and time-setting modes without requiring external tools or crown manipulation. The 41mm pink ceramic case paired with titanium construction delivers aesthetic distinction while minimizing weight, a practical consideration for a professional athlete. Water resistance reaches 50 metres, sufficient for daily wear but not diving applications.

Vanguart's focus on owner interaction sets the Orb apart in a market saturated with static display movements. The function selector represents a deliberate departure from traditional manual or automatic-only mechanisms, granting the wearer tactile control over the watch's operational state. The open-worked architecture demands meticulous finishing—hand-applied perlage, bevelling, and polishing across multiple components visible through the crystal. Early production variants have commanded attention among collectors prioritising innovation over heritage-brand prestige.

Rybakina's choice reflects a growing trend among professional athletes toward independent watchmakers and technical microbrand aesthetics. The Orb's pink ceramic case offered visual coherence with her red dress and platinum jewellery while signalling mechanical sophistication—a departure from traditional sports-watch sponsorships that dominated professional tennis for decades. This pairing underscores how specialized movements and material experimentation now compete with brand heritage as status markers.

The Vanguart Orb retails at $185,000 USD, positioning it within the accessible haute horlogerie segment. Secondary market availability remains limited given its 2024 launch; demand currently outpaces grey-market supply. Waitlists through authorized dealers extend several months, with pre-owned examples trading near retail or above, reflecting strong collector appetite for Vanguart's technical achievements.