LG has come up with a premium smartwatch similar to the Edition version of the Apple Watch. For users who like shiny things, LG has released a gold-plated version of its LG Watch Urbane.
Same specs as LG Watch Urbane
Apart from being gold-plated, the smartwatch is the same as the as the Watch Urbane, which was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in February. The LG Watch Urbane Luxe, which is the gold-plated version, has been made in partnership with Reeds Jewelers and is plated with 23-karat gold. The watch sports an alligator leather strap and a piano-gloss lacquer case. The gold-plated version is priced at $1,200, which is much higher than the regular Urbane costing $349. Comparatively, Apple’s gold version costs $10,000+.
According to the Korean firm, the 23-karat gold plated body offers more sturdiness to the watch than 24-karat gold jewelry. The watch is also equipped with a deployment clasp, which is based on the technology developed by Louis Cartier in 1910.
When announcing the gold-plated watch, LG said, “Wearable devices shouldn’t be thought of as an extension of one’s smartphone but an extension of oneself,” adding, “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.”
Only 500 units of LG’s gold-plated watch will be available in the U.S. Interested buyers can preorder the watch at www.reeds.com “later this month.” The watch will be on sale at the end of October in the U.S. and will soon be available in other regions. Each of the limited edition watches will be engraved with a unique serial number. LG will demo the watch at the IFA 2015 trade show, which is scheduled on Sept. 4.
Sony launched a simple but effective watch
Sony also released a new watch, but it’s not as flashy as the one from LG. The Wena Wrist from Sony can be termed ordinary. The watch has a round face and analog hands and comes with a silver or black metallic finish. The watch’s metal clasp is equipped with NFC (near field communication), which can be used for making mobile payments using Sony’s contact-less FeliCa standard.
Sony’s Wena Wrist can count users’ steps. When connected to an iPhone, it can send notifications in the form of vibrations or LED lights. The watch can run for a week without charging.
