In the market for a luxury smartwatch but not willing to shell out $10,000 for the Apple Watch Edition? The gold-plated LG Watch Urbane could just be the posh wearable for you.
Earlier this week, the South Korean tech firm announced a partnership with US retail jewelry company REEDS Jewelers to produce the limited edition smartwatch.
The Watch Urbane Luxe is said to have 23-karat gold, an alligator leather strap and an exclusive piano-gloss lacquer case. It's also outfitted with a deployment class, invented by Louis Cartier in 1910, "for a fitted, elegant look that isn't bulky."
"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," LG vice president and head of marketing communications Chris Yie said in a statement.
"We think this is a good direction for wearables and we want to encourage this transformation."
Underneath the fancy exterior, Wareable said the luxury smartwatch "features the same technical specifications" as the Watch Urbane Android Wear smartwatch. The LG Watch Urbane Luxe will be available at the end of October retailing for approximately $1,200.
The asking price may be out of reach for the average consumer but as Tech Times pointed out, it's still less than the Apple Watch Edition which starts at $10,000. By contrast, Cupertino's luxury smartwatch features 18-karat gold, a sapphire crystal-protected display and an "exquisitely designed band."
Wareable thinks the Watch Urbane Luxe could be the luxury smartwatch for buyers who "aren't willing to invest too much in an ever-changing tech market until they are sure that $10,000 will last longer than five years."
Only 500 examples of the limited edition Android Wear smartwatch will be made with each one engraved with a unique serial number to prove its authenticity.
The LG Watch Urbane Luxe will be available for pre-order in the US initially at www.REEDS.com later this month. In the meantime, the Apple Watch Edition rival will be on display at IFA 2015 in Hall 18 of Messe Berlin from Sept. 4 to 9.
