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Limited Edition LG Watch Urbane Luxe costs $1200, 23-karat gold with alligator leather band
Even though love may turn out to be but a gas, you needn’t worry about a heart of glass. LG, eager to get into the “premium smartwatch” craze, has partnered with U.S. retail jewelry company REEDS Jewelers to create the LG Watch Urbane Luxe. Made of 23-karat gold and featuring an exotic alligator leather strap with piano-gloss lacquer case, the pricey piece will retail for approximately $1200 when it hits in late October.
Only 500 units will be produced, and each of the digital timepieces will be engraved with its own unique serial number, thus truly making a one-of-a-kind proposition.
According to the press release, the watch will make use of a special deployment clasp that was invented by Louis Cartier in 1910 and make use of an “alligator band [that is] handcrafted at the highest level of craftsmanship, undergoing 50 separate steps in its creation, handled lovingly by 30 experienced leatherworkers.”
As if that’s not enough, the Korean conglomerate mentioned that “the 23-karat gold used in the LG Watch Urbane Luxe is stronger and harder than the 24-karat gold used in jewelry and heavier than the 18-karat gold used in traditional luxury watches.” This should ideally indicate a product that is designed to last for a long time, at least with respect to durability.
Chris Yie, vice president and head of marketing communications at LG Mobile, had the following to say of the new product:
Wearable devices shouldn’t be thought of as an extension of one’s smartphone but an extension of oneself. This blending of craftsmanship and technology is a natural evolution of the smartwatch, which is becoming more of a lifestyle accessory than a piece of hardware. We think this is a good direction for wearables and we want to encourage this transformation.
The LG Watch Urbane Luxe, despite the new build material, still the same awesome product we reviewed earlier this year when it was only made of mere metal. Selected as an Editor’s Choice product of 2015, we praised the beautiful design, vibrant OLED screen, great battery life, luxury appeal, comfortably, and performance. Ironically the main fault was cited as the price, something that definitely will hold true of this Luxe-urious new variant.
The LG Watch Urbane comes with a 1.3-inch P-OLED circular display with a 320 x 320 resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 245 ppi. The display is protected by a Gorilla Glass 3 panel that should keep it free from scratches. Additionally it has a 1,2GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and 512MB of RAM, along with a 410mAh battery. The watch also comes with an IP67 certification for resistance to dust and water.
This is definitely a new direction for LG’s wearable product propositions, perhaps something spurred on by the Apple Watch and TAG Heuer‘s offering, as well as recent indications that consumer interest in wearables as a whole is declining. Unfortunately the design -arguably- is not nearly as cool as that of the Korean only LTE variant, but them’s the breaks.
The smartwatch will be up for pre-order at www.REEDS.com later in September, or can directly at any REEDS Jewelers location. Those attending IFA this week can also see it at LG’s exhibit booth located in Hall 18.
Any thoughts on this premium product? Is LG right to partner for a gold watch, or should this have been an all-together new product? Leave us your comments!
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SEOUL, Aug. 31, 2015 — In collaboration with U.S. retail jewelry company REEDS Jewelers, LG Electronics (LG) will introduce a premium limited edition smartwatch, LG Watch Urbane Luxe. This luxurious wearable was designed with a specific wearer in mind and is adorned in 23-karat gold and gorgeous alligator leather strap set in an exclusive piano-gloss lacquer case. Available starting at the end of October, the LG Watch Urbane Luxe will retail for approximately USD 1,200.
The LG Watch Urbane Luxe will sport a deployment clasp for a fitted, elegant look that isn’t bulky. Invented by Louis Cartier in 1910, the use of a deployment clasp makes this timepiece even more exclusive and unique. The alligator band itself is handcrafted at the highest level of craftsmanship, undergoing 50 separate steps in its creation, handled lovingly by 30 experienced leatherworkers. The 23-karat gold used in the LG Watch Urbane Luxe is stronger and harder than the 24-karat gold used in jewelry and heavier than the 18-karat gold used in traditional luxury watches.
“Wearable devices shouldn’t be thought of as an extension of one’s smartphone but an extension of oneself,” said Chris Yie, vice president and head of marketing communications for LG Mobile Communications Company. “This blending of craftsmanship and technology is a natural evolution of the smartwatch, which is becoming more of a lifestyle accessory than a piece of hardware. We think this is a good direction for wearables and we want to encourage this transformation.”
Each of the 500 limited edition watches will be engraved with its own serial number for authenticity and available initially in the USA for pre-order at www.REEDS.com later this month or by visiting any REEDS Jewelers location. Visitors to IFA 2015 can see this beautiful work of art for themselves along with other mobile devices from LG in Hall 18 of Messe Berlin from September 4-9.
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