The groundbreaking haute horlogerie watch with a function selector that can switch between automatic and manual winding modes returns, driving the limits of technical performance and human creativity across new frontiers

Geneva, 6 April 2026 – Vanguart, the ultra-luxe independent watchmaker and creator of some of the most disruptive, inventive watches ever seen in haute horlogerie, returns to its wildly inventive Vanguart Orb at Geneva Watch Week 2026. For the first time, the explosive design will be injected with flashes of coloured ceramic, creating a pair of crossover watches that are at once works of mechanical art and suitable for daily wear.
The Vanguart Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Vanguart Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold are defined by a unique cocktail of materials, technologies, textures and colourways. In this way, they create a playful paradox. On the one hand, the soft, relaxed colours in the pink and blue ceramics give both watches a versatility and an ease; on the other, the Orb’s theatrical, joyfully unorthodox architecture remains, dazzling with its mechanical ambition and complexity.

THE COLOUR OF TIME: BRILLIANT CERAMIC OPENS THE ORB UP TO A NEW GENERATION
The Vanguart Orb rocked watchmaking two years ago when it became the world’s first flying tourbillon watch with a function selector that could pivot between manual and automatic modes at the whim of its owner. This provocative function brought fresh intrigue to haute horlogerie, one that explored eternal philosophical questions: how is time shaped? Can it be controlled?

The Orb was an instant hit in watch collecting circles. It shot Vanguart into the limelight and secured its reputation as one of the pioneers of contemporary ultra-luxe watchmaking. Since launch, the watch has been spotted on the wrists of a number of global superstars from the worlds of sport and entertainment, all of whom have chosen to wear Vanguart.

Now, the Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold elevate the design’s challenging form further still. In either shade, the watch becomes a more versatile everyday watch – “a daily-wear flying tourbillon”. With these additions of coloured ceramic, Vanguart has opened a new chapter for the Orb flying tourbillon, giving it deeper resonance intended to captivate the next generation of aficionados and collectors of esoteric watch art.
THE BACK STORY: AVANT-GARDE DESIGN AND MECHANICS IN A BEAUTIFUL, ERGONOMIC WATCH
The original Orb flying tourbillon of 2024 was conceived and developed over a period of three years as a high-concept, high-complication watch with an ingenious winding selector that put the wearer in control of how it generated power. It had an elegance to it, too: the overall form was a lesson in massing and proportionality, balance and symmetry.

The conceit was that it was also highly ergonomic, sculpted to the wrist. So while its thrilling movement architecture created a visual vortex, drawing the wearer through multiple physical layers into its dancing flying tourbillon, the 41mm case was a mere 10.5mm thick, a measurement that defied its complexity.

Its wearability was further enhanced by its fluid, beautifully engineered curved case back, which followed the topography of the wrist. The effect was a seminal watch that had mesmerising depth and presence, and yet wore with the day-to-day practicality of an off-the-shelf sports watch.

Two years on from the release of the Vanguart Orb, the Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold invite a new audience, one with an appetite for an exclusive wristwatch that fuses extreme watchmaking mechanics with everyday style and sophistication.

THE NEW CHALLENGE: INTEGRATING CERAMIC INTO THE ORB
In 2025, Vanguart fulfilled a special commission to create a series of unique pieces for a high-profile private client to incorporate ceramic into the Orb. As well as presenting a tantalising research and development opportunity to interpret watchmaking’s ceramic trend through Vanguart’s unique creative and technical lens, the project posed a number of engineering challenges. Namely, how to integrate coloured ceramic into the Orb’s fluid form without compromising the design’s distinctive character, the watch’s performance (including water resistance to 30 metres) or Vanguart’s hugely exacting quality and finishing standards.

While it can deliver profound colour and depth, ceramic is a complex material. It’s notoriously brittle and inflexible, and so a special formula was required to deliver the dynamics the new Orb watches demanded. Through a year-long research and development process, the company’s engineers delivered a highly resistant ceramic that could be sculpted into sweeping curves that follow the Orb’s unique geometry, and polished by hand to give it a deep brilliance.
Bespoke tooling had to be developed for the work, too, to ensure every component in the watch would be produced and finished to Vanguart’s exacting standards. Quality that goes beyond what is visible is one of the brand’s founding pillars.

In the Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold, this ceramic features in the case flanks and in the pusher inserted into the crown. The ceramic delivers tactility as well as the hardness, colour intensity and scratch- and fade-resistance that have made it such a desirable watchmaking material. Vanguart’s blue and pink ceramics will not scratch or fade, even when exposed to the elements for extended periods.
THE ORB: TIME COMES UNDER CONTROL
The basic form and architecture of the new Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold are carried over from the 2024 launch editions. Both have 41mm round cases measuring 10.5mm thick, with top and bottom components in either micro-blasted and satin-finished titanium or micro-blasted and satin-finished 18-carat rose gold. Both iterations of the case also feature hand-polished angles that create much of the form’s depth.
The story of innovation continues inside the case. The curved réhaut and the Orb’s similarly concave signature oscillating mass are colour- and surface-matched to the watch’s polished ceramic elements using a bespoke treatment inspired by the automotive industry and applied with high-precision micro-painting. This process was performed by a specialist in colour optimisation and required months of trials due to the complexity of applying it to functional, three-dimensional shapes. By adopting this approach, Vanguart was able to deliver a ceramic-like visual effect without adversely influencing the watch’s technical performance.
These two visually prominent components sit either side of an hour track in either titanium or rose gold. Together, they cascade into the watch and into its spectacular 3hz (21,600vph) flying tourbillon movement. In both models, the mainplate, bridges and tourbillon cage are cast in Grade 5 titanium, with micro-blasted, satin-finished, block-polished and hand-beveled surfaces.
The movement’s barrel sits in the prominent 12 o’clock position and hosts the watch’s signature function. Its surface is micro-blasted and laser-engraved with the company name. An inner ring is then colour-matched with a pink or blue PVD coating and interspersed with three apertures that turn black to indicate the watch’s mode: M for manual-winding, A for automatic winding, and H for time-setting. These modes are selected through the pusher set into the crown.

As before, these functions either activate or deactivate the watch’s oscillating mass. When the watch’s function selector is set to manual, the mass remains fixed in place. Switched into automatic mode, it’s released and spins freely, the animation dramatised by the ricochet of light from the brilliant-cut diamond set into it.

In total, each watch has 395 components. Despite its complexity and the energy required to fuel the watch’s mesmerising flying tourbillon, the movement has a 60-hour power reserve.

THE FINISHING: GOING DOWN A LEVEL TO LEVEL UP

Together, the Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold are an exercise in exquisite artisanal hand-finishing, pushing hand-craftsmanship to its limit.

One major update is the three-dimensional hand-polished bevelling applied to the sand-blasted central bridge. The hour track has been enhanced too, and now features a highly technical blend of micro-blasted and mirror-polished surfaces, creating an elegant pattern that carries an echo of the Art Deco movement.

The lumed hour markers – triangular on the blue model and trapezoid on the pink edition – sit in sharp contrast to this track, delivering on the Orb’s promise of usability by making it immediately legible. This is backed up by satin-polished, lumed and partially skeletonised hour and minute hands that, despite the visual complexity of what lies beneath them, still stand proud, ensuring legibility.
Both editions also elevate Vanguart’s extreme finishing approach further still. The pink edition features a sand-blasted mainplate that is first PVD-treated in a deeper pink hue, and then re-angled again by hand to reveal the polished titanium beneath. In the blue edition, the barrel bridge and tourbillon cage are coated with gold PVD, giving them a gilded allure. This next-level finishing highlights Vanguart’s devotion to haute horlogerie.

THE STRAPS: SWITCH ON DEMAND IN CONFIDENCE
Whether in its overall form or in the tiniest dial detail, the Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold deliver exceptional quality, beauty and ergonomics, ensuring unparalleled wearability.
The same principle applies to the Orb’s straps and strap quick-release system. Developed by Vanguart, the system is activated by an easily accessed but safely concealed pusher on the case back. This way, the strap can be changed at the owner’s discretion, while simultaneously guaranteeing security.

The watches are supplied with a rubber strap colour-matched to the ceramic, while owners will be able to personalise their watches with a suite of additional coloured straps.
THE LIMITED NUMBERS: RETAINING VANGUART’S EXCLUSIVE MAXIM WITH SPECIAL PARTNERS
Reflecting the extreme complexity in the case, movement and material mix found in the new Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold, both models will be limited to just 25 individually numbered pieces with extremely limited distribution.

Since the debut of its first timepiece, the Black Hole Tourbillon in 2021, Vanguart’s success has been driven by a close-knit and deeply valued network of suppliers and partners who share its vision of exclusive haute horlogerie. To honour its role in shaping the Vanguart story and fostering meaningful connections between its founders and discerning collectors of avant-garde haute horology, US retailer Material Good will serve as the exclusive global outlet for the Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium. In recognition of this unique partnership and the close dialogue that informed the watch’s development – each of the 25 pieces will feature a specially engraved “MG” monogram on the case back.

The Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold, which carries a higher retail price due to its increased precious metal content, will also be available through Material Good; through Seddiqi, Vanguart’s exclusive partner in the Middle East; and directly from Vanguart in all other markets.

THE VOICES: THE STORY TOLD BY THOSE CLOSEST TO IT
Mehmet Koruturk, Vanguart President, said: “The Vanguart Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Vanguart Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold reflect how we think about watchmaking today. Our clients expect pieces that move with them – across different moments, different environments, different lives. Ceramic allowed us to bring that versatility to the Orb while preserving what makes it unique.”

Axel Leuenberger, Vanguart Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Vanguart Orb is a symbol of our intent: to enrich tradition through new forms of expression, embodied in design, mechanics and craftsmanship that redefine what a watch can be. The Vanguart Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Vanguart Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold belong to a future we are already building. They are pieces that feel visionary, yet are made to be worn and lived with every day.”
Thierry Fischer, Vanguart Creative Director, said: “Creating the Vanguart Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Vanguart Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold was a remarkable journey. Colour is deeply subjective, and even more so when shaped through ceramic, with its depth and intensity. We set out to create pieces that feel both warm and precise, technical yet tactile. It required a true dialogue between creative vision and engineering discipline.
It marks the beginning of a new chapter – one that allows us to connect with more people, while staying true to what defines us.”
THE FINAL WORD: EVOLVING THE CODES OF FINE WATCHMAKING FOR AN EXCLUSIVE CLIENTELE
With the release of the Vanguart Orb two years ago, Vanguart created a new template for a round watch with a classical complication that evolved and elevated the codes of fine watchmaking. With its fluent, seamless form and exquisitely finished mechanical movement, the Orb was a visceral reimagining of traditions passed down through generations of elite watchmakers. It took a heritage story and made it science fiction. Now, with the addition of coloured ceramic, the watch becomes a true lifestyle object, ready to carry Vanguart into the next chapter of its remarkable story.

The Vanguart Orb Pink Ceramic Titanium and Vanguart Orb Blue Ceramic Rose Gold will be on display during Geneva Watch Week 2026, April 12-17. By appointment only.

The post A NEW SHADE OF HOROLOGY: VANGUART’S ORB IN PINK CERAMIC TITANIUM appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

The Vanguart Orb introduces an entirely new hand-finished flying Tourbillon movement that allows the user to alternate between automatic and manual modes, all cased within a sleek symmetrical form that reaches beyond the contemporary and touches upon the uncharted. Creative Director, Thierry Fischer describes the Orb as ‘a harmonious shape that evokes relics of the past and visions of the future’. The unique case of the Vanguart Orb has been extensively hand-decorated throughout, including handcrafted angles, openings and symmetrical details that involve multiple techniques. The combination of sandblasting, satin-finishing and mirror polishing results in a case that shares aesthetics and techniques with the movement that it protects inside its orbital form.

The theme of symmetry and balance is also central to the openworked movement design and open dial display. Although the entire height of the watch is 10.5mm including the crystal, Vanguart takes full advantage of the volume within by creating layers of depth to be discovered.

The initial layer is the time display which is indicated by superluminova hands and a pvd-coated
titanium inner bezel with superluminova hour markers. Immediately underneath the hands resides Vanguart’s automatic flying tourbillon at the 6 o’clock position and the winding barrel at the 12 o’clock position. Bordering these elements is one of the most unique features of the Vanguart Orb – a sloped pvd-coated titanium track for the orbital oscillating mass. When the user changes the mode of the watch from manual to automatic via the crown, the 2mm diamond-set orbital mass animates into existence and begins revolving around its track – appearing to float within the timepiece. When the watch is changed back into manual mode, the diamond-set orbital mass is locked into place.

Vanguart’s mindset is woven throughout the brand’s current and future blueprint – technologically advanced, highly engaging, showcasing user interface, designed with beauty and hand-decorated throughout. CEO, Axel Leuenberger describes the development as follows, “For the Vanguart Orb we consciously took the time to refine every detail, seeking ideal symmetry and proportions throughout each element of the case, movement and dial display. Our ambition was to merge futuristic aspects with traditional finishes and techniques into a harmonious, coherent design. The automatic winding system with its orbital oscillating mass provides both tactile and visual ways to engage with the timepiece.”

Chairman, Mehmet Koruturk continues “Our new model, the Vanguart Orb, will help strengthen our position in the Haute Horlogerie segment by enriching our collection with a model that fuses elegance and futurism in a unique way. The Orb is an expression of our long-term vision and our commitment to develop exceptional creations that broaden the appreciation of modern watchmaking by introducing new possibilities”.

The post UNVEILING THE NEW AND ENGAGING VANGUART ORB appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

Black Hole Arabic dial
Introducing the Black Hole – Arabic dial, a groundbreaking evolution in the collection and the first of its kind to feature Arabic numeral design. This bold reinterpretation seamlessly blends contemporary craftsmanship with a truly original dial aesthetic. Encased in precision-crafted titanium, it preserves the technical integrity of the original Black Hole, while its numeral display marks a pioneering moment in horology. A testament to Vanguart’s forward-thinking spirit, this edition embodies design innovation, cultural inclusivity, and timeless elegance. The result is a timepiece that is both enigmatic and evocative—imbued with meaning, distinguished by design, and unprecedented in execution.

The Black Hole Arabic Numerals edition is CHF 355,000.

Black Hole Rose Gold
A bold evolution of the Black Hole concept, the 2025 Rose Gold edition marks the debut of a new faceless generation—one that redefines luxury through purity, form, and light alone. Encased in sumptuous rose gold, this masterpiece exudes a captivating warmth and sophisticated contrast, solidifying its place at the pinnacle of haute horlogerie. Every surface is meticulously crafted to create a seamless interplay of shadow, reflection, and depth—an experience that transcends traditional markers of time. This faceless design embodies a modern philosophy: time felt, not displayed. A testament to Vanguard’s dedication to innovation and refined craftsmanship, the Black Hole – Rose Gold epitomizes maturity, balance, and artistic restraint—an understated yet strikingly luxurious expression of timeless elegance.

The Black Hole Rose Gold is CHF 410,000.

The post VANGUART UNVEILS ROSE GOLD AND ARABIC NUMERALS BLACK HOLE MODELS DURING DUBAI WATCH WEEK appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.