DUBAI: Swiss luxury watch brand Vanguart has made its first foray into the Middle East, with president and co-founder Mehmet Koruturk telling Arab News the area “has become one of the most dynamic regions in modern watchmaking.”
Launched in the Gulf via watch department store Ahmed Seddiqi, Koruturk says “working with them allows us to benefit from their deep understanding of local collectors.”
The independent watchmaking brand, founded in 2017 by Axel Leuenberger, Jeremy Frelechox, Thierry Fischer and Koruturk, has made headlines for its complex complications and three-dimensional architecture. Its debut model, the Black Hole Tourbillon, boasted three-dimensional construction designed so the tourbillon appears as a “black hole” at the center of the dial.
In 2025, the brand launched its Black Hole with Arabic numerals.
“Arabic numerals are part of the global history of mathematics and timekeeping. Incorporating them was not just a regional gesture, but also a recognition of that shared heritage,” Koruturk explained.
“For us, the intention was to create something that felt authentic and respectful, rather than purely decorative.”
Luxury watch boutique Ahmed Seddiqi expanded into Saudi Arabia in November, marking the 75-year-old brand’s first store outside the Emirates. CEO Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi previously told Arab News its focus was on raising awareness about niche and independent brands, offering collectors and first-time buyers the full breadth of what the industry has to offer.
Vanguart’s inclusion plays into those goals, with Koruturk banking on the brand’s “distinctive design” as a key selling point.
“There is an openness to bold aesthetics and mechanical innovation,” he said. “What is particularly exciting is the emergence of a younger generation of collectors. Many of them are extremely knowledgeable and curious about the mechanics behind the watch. They are not simply buying heritage — they are looking for originality, exclusivity and authenticity.”
