A vortex–antivortex pair can form in the free layer of a nanocontact device as a result of the Oersted field produced by the current. In a large-scale free layer having uniform magnetization boundary conditions an in-plane external magnetic field will tend to confine the vortex–antivortex pair, which undergoes gyrotropic motion about the nanocontact after an initial displacement from the static equilibrium position. With the vortex pinned to a defect at the nanocontact the antivortex dynamics can be isolated and gyrotropic precession of the antivortex will be the dominant mode. The frequency of antivortex precession increases as the external magnetic field increases, and the frequency decreases as the nanocontact current increases.