LG Pulls A Trump, Decks Out $1200 Urbane Smartwatch With 23-Karat Gold Plating

If there's one thing we know about electronics, it's that gold is best! As Apple's VP of Gold Raffi Jaharian so eloquently put it, "You think gold, you think all the best stuff: jet ski, nice watch, sports...shrimp." Sure, Raffi might be a fictitious character, and maybe Apple doesn't even have a VP of Gold position; it hasn't stopped competitors from jumping on the gold bandwagon, the newest of which is LG with its Urbane Luxe smartwatch.

The limited edition premium wearable was designed in collaboration with U.S. retail jewelry company REEDS Jewelers. It's made of 23-karat gold, has a handcrafted alligator leather band that undergoes 50 separate steps in its creation, and comes in an exclusive piano gloss lacquer case.


In case you're wondering, LG opted for 23-karat gold because it's 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."


LG is only making 500 of these special edition smartwatches and pricing them at $1,200 each. You'll be able to pre-order them at REEDS (online or in a physical store) later this month.