Launched in 2024, the Orb was developed over three years as a highly complicated timepiece. Its function selector allows the wearer to choose between automatic and manual winding directly from the crown. Despite the complexity of the movement it houses, the 41 mm case maintains a restrained thickness of 10.5 mm.

For this commission, the challenge was not mechanical but narrative: to create a dialogue between the Orb’s architecture and OpenAI’s culture without altering its essence.

Nearly one third of Vanguart’s 33 employees worked on the project, according to Mehmet Koruturk, President and Co-Founder of the brand. “We systematically incorporate subtle details, reserved for those who know where to look,” he explains.

On this edition, the OpenAI logo appears on the barrel cover. A quote attributed to Sam Altman, “Compute is destiny,” is engraved in capital letters around the rotor. The term “Scaling” adorns the crown pusher. On the back of the case, a line of Python code — if AGI.aligned: deploy() — was suggested by Axel Leuenberger, CEO of Vanguart.

Mehmet Koruturk, President of Vanguart: “This means that artificial intelligence must be used for peaceful purposes. This commission will remain unique in our history.”

Each case is individually numbered and bears the inscription “Limited OpenAI.”

The architecture remains that of the Orb in its entirety: an automatic flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock, a winding barrel at 12 o’clock, and an orbital winding mass that moves freely in automatic mode before locking into position in manual mode — a selection made directly through the crown.

The case, crafted from Grade 5 titanium, measures 41 mm in diameter and 10.5 mm in thickness. The movement, made from the same material, comprises 395 components and 35 jewels, operating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and offering a 60-hour power reserve. The strap is made of rubber.

Vanguart has produced fewer than 200 watches since its creation eight years ago — a deliberately limited scale. This OpenAI series goes even further: seven pieces, not offered for sale, created for a single private commission.

Axel Leuenberger, CEO of Vanguart: “The Orb has an architecture particularly well suited to this type of project. Its curves, volumes and geometries provide a true creative platform, allowing new meanings to be integrated while preserving its identity. Here, we wanted to translate key concepts linked to artificial intelligence and the cultural shift it brings, and incorporate them directly into the piece.”

• Functions: Hours, minutes, flying tourbillon, automatic/manual winding via the crown
  
• Number of components: 395
  
• Jewels: 35
  
• Frequency: 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz)
  
• Power reserve: 60 hours
  
• Case: Grade 5 titanium
  
• Diameter: 41 mm
  
• Thickness: 10.5 mm
  
• Strap: Ruber
  
• Engravings: OpenAI logo (dial), “Compute is destiny” (rotor), “Scaling” (crown pusher), “if AGI.aligned: deploy()” and “Limited OpenAI” (caseback)
  
• Series: 7 numbered pieces, private commission, not commercially available

Founded in 2017 by President and Co-Founder Mehmet Koruturk, alongside CEO Axel Leuenberger, Chief Technical Officer Jérémy Freléchox and Creative Director Thierry Fischer, Vanguart quickly distinguished itself through a strong vision and a singular aesthetic identity.

Before joining Vanguart, Axel Leuenberger and Jérémy Freléchox worked at APRP alongside renowned watchmaker Giulio Papi, contributing to the development of complex movements for iconic maisons such as Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille and Chanel.

Building on this collective expertise, the brand established itself in 2019 with the launch of the Vanguart Blackhole, before unveiling the Vanguart ORB in 2024. Through creations that are both technical and experiential, Vanguart pushes the boundaries of contemporary haute horlogerie and asserts a bold vision of independent watchmaking.