# OpenAI luxury watch commissions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/openai-luxury-watch-commissions
> Updated: 2026-08-28T06:00:09.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman commissioned seven custom Swiss watches from the watchmaker Vanguart. The titanium timepieces, based on the Vanguart Orb model, are valued at approximately $180,000 each. One watch was intended for Altman, while the other six were gifted to OpenAI employees.

The custom watches feature OpenAI branding and inscriptions related to the company’s artificial intelligence strategy, such as ‘COMPUTE IS DESTINY’ and ‘SCALING’. The back of the watches includes a programming-style reference: ‘if AGI. aligned: deploy()’. Vanguart co-founder Axel Leuenberger stated this inscription refers to the concept of using AI for peaceful purposes. The production of these seven pieces required roughly one-third of Vanguart’s 33 employees.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-28: Tech leaders discuss AI privacy risks and OpenAI luxury commissions

Signal president Meredith Whittaker warns of AI-driven privacy risks, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman commissions seven custom $180,000 Vanguart watches for leadership.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tech-leaders-discuss-ai-privacy-risks-and-openai-luxury-commissions

### 2026-08-26: Sam Altman commissions seven custom OpenAI branded Vanguart watches

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman commissioned seven custom Vanguart Orb watches for himself and employees, featuring AI-themed inscriptions and OpenAI branding.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sam-altman-commissions-seven-custom-openai-branded-vanguart-watches

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Cite as: OpenAI luxury watch commissions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/openai-luxury-watch-commissions