Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Sam Altman Commissions Seven Ultra-Limited OpenAI Luxury Watches
Sam Altman reportedly ordered seven special watches from a small Swiss watchmaker called Vanguart.
The watches are based on a model that normally costs about $180,000.
They include the OpenAI logo and words connected to building powerful AI.
One message says “COMPUTE IS DESTINY,” and another says “SCALING.”
The back includes computer-style code referring to aligned artificial general intelligence, or AGI.
Vanguart has made fewer than 200 watches in total.
About one-third of its 33 employees helped make these seven watches.
One report says Altman kept one and gave six to colleagues, although the other reports do not specify how they were distributed.
The watches are not publicly listed for sale, and their final price is unknown.
Sam Altman reportedly commissioned seven bespoke watches from independent Swiss watchmaker Vanguart.
The watches are based on Vanguart’s Orb model, whose standard titanium version starts at about $180,000.
Design details include OpenAI branding, “COMPUTE IS DESTINY,” “SCALING,” and “if AGI.aligned: deploy().”
About one-third of Vanguart’s 33 employees reportedly worked on the seven-watch project, while the company has made fewer than 200 watches overall.
Reports say some watches may have gone to OpenAI colleagues, but the final price and public availability remain undisclosed.
- Who
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly commissioned seven watches from Vanguart; reports also identify Vanguart co-founder and chairman Mehmet Koruturk as discussing the project.
- What
- A seven-piece collection of bespoke luxury watches was created with OpenAI branding and references to scaling and artificial general intelligence.
- When
- The articles do not specify when the watches were commissioned or completed.
- Where
- The watches were made by Vanguart, an independent Swiss watchmaker.
- Why
- The design was intended to reflect OpenAI’s technology culture and AI ambitions; Vanguart representatives said it also referenced using AI for peaceful purposes.
- Commission size
- Seven custom watches
- Watchmaker
- Vanguart, an independent Swiss luxury watchmaker
- Base model
- Vanguart Orb
- Standard price
- The Orb’s standard titanium version starts at about $180,000, or approximately ₹1.5 crore
- Design references
- OpenAI branding, “COMPUTE IS DESTINY,” “SCALING,” and “if AGI.aligned: deploy().”
- Production scale
- Vanguart has produced fewer than 200 watches; about one-third of its 33 employees reportedly worked on the project
- Reported distribution
- One report says Altman kept one watch and gave six to colleagues; other articles do not specify the distribution
- Public availability and price
- No OpenAI edition is listed in Vanguart’s public catalogue, and the total price has not been disclosed
