LG shows off Rolex cellphone concept

LG has already teamed up with Prada and Roberto Cavalli on a couple of fashionphones, and it now looks like it might be ready to work with another similarly high-end brand as well, with TechDigest catching sight of a Rolex concept phone the company recently had on display. Unfortunately, LG doesn't seem to have allowed any pictures of the mysterious yet surely classy phone to be taken, although TechDigest has thankfully provided a description of it to make up for that unfortunate absence. Apparently, the centerpiece of the phone is a presumably-genuine Rolex watch-face that's embedded in the casing, which gets complemented by "luxurious leathery exterior," all of which reportedly looked "reassuringly expensive." While there's no word on a possible release, or any evidence of Rolex's direct involvement for that matter, TechDigest says the phone, and other concept devices on display (including one with a " fully transparent keypad"), were all "pretty well manufactured," which suggests a release could at least be possible.

[HineyWipe @ Oct 10th 2007 1:36PM]

I see now...new updated spam subject..."ROLEX CELLFONE FOR U".

[St. Stephen @ Oct 10th 2007 1:42PM]

wow an equally over priced phone to go with my over priced watch.. nice. how come I have this sinking feeling that this thing is really ugly?

[zfurie @ Oct 10th 2007 1:46PM]

It'd better make videocalls underwater at 200 meters or no buy!

[Andrew Tanasescu @ Oct 10th 2007 1:46PM]

A month later...

"Samsung shows off Movado cellphone concept"

[fobunited @ Oct 10th 2007 1:48PM]

Rolex...? Classy...?

[getz76 @ Oct 10th 2007 1:50PM]

I dig my DateJust. Some of the bling watches are out of hand.

This thing will be as ugly as every other cell phone.

[paul34 @ Oct 10th 2007 3:11PM]

Yea. Whenever I think Rolex, I think of gaudy watches from the 80s that Arab princes wear in their Rolls Royces.

I guess there are a few OK models now... but overall, I still find them excessively gaudy and quite frankly, ugly. They don't really have a place in the modern world anymore. Unless you're 85.

[Jensen @ Oct 10th 2007 7:11PM]

Only the gold Rolex watches tend to be gaudy. I prefer mine in stainless so that's what I bought both times. Neither are gaudy.

[theron @ Oct 10th 2007 1:48PM]

ecca41a3

[Chris @ Oct 10th 2007 2:13PM]

is that your password?

[Chris @ Oct 10th 2007 2:21PM]

hah, nice, it is... dont worry though, your secret is save with me ;-) ssshhhh!!!!

[Jonathan Keim @ Oct 10th 2007 2:38PM]

lol, it is. I just tried it

[theron @ Oct 10th 2007 1:50PM]

error

[Magallanes @ Oct 10th 2007 4:44PM]

Alt + F4 ?.

[RT @ Oct 10th 2007 2:05PM]

This co-branding trend is getting absurd.

[hoyce @ Oct 10th 2007 2:07PM]

what is Rolex doing teaming up with Lucky Goldstar?
Talk about hooking up with the bargain basement.

[dudeInAmerica @ Oct 10th 2007 2:10PM]

FTA

"You’ll have to trust me on this one, as I wasn’t allowed to take photographs inside LG’s mobile demonstration room."

Pics or it doesnt exist.

[Joe @ Oct 10th 2007 2:25PM]

Can't wait for LG to team up with Charmin. Imagine the convenience of a phone that dispenses huggable toilet paper after you are done browsing on the can.

[Anthony @ Oct 10th 2007 2:33PM]

I think this is a great idea because my watch's been running battery free for years. I can only assume that any Rolex phone will be equally perpetual. I'm sick of these crappy quartz phones.

[John McKee @ Oct 10th 2007 2:48PM]

Nokia seems to be doing pretty well with their handcrafted Vertu phones starting around $4,000. If LG wants to get into the same market partnering with a company like Rolex who is already a well established producer of luxury handcrafted products doesn't seem like a bad idea.

If this product does make it to the marketplace think Vertu not Prada as far as build, features and price.

[trigatch4 @ Oct 10th 2007 3:04PM]

It's the new Family Plan: Rolex phone for dad, Prada phone for mom, LG Voyager for the kids and lord help me if they come out with some Coach/Petsmart Neck Collar Leash Phone for the dog.... sheesh

[Derek Martin @ Oct 10th 2007 3:16PM]

I'll just pick up the knock off on Canal Street, thx.

[fireblade @ Oct 10th 2007 3:28PM]

Yawn.....rolex makes such boring watches.
There are so many watches out there are mass produced- one million rolexes are stamped out every year.
Try IWC, JLC, Lange and Sohne. Patek Philippe! Much nice watches for the $.

[letstakeawalk @ Oct 10th 2007 4:33PM]

Omega Speedmaster "Snoopy" FTW! (with meteorite face, of course)

[Janet @ Oct 10th 2007 3:50PM]

"Rolex watch-face" from a Rolex sales person. People have faces... Watches have dials. Sorry just one of my things.

[EMTZAlex @ Oct 10th 2007 5:24PM]

I'm waiting for a Smith & Wesson pairing. Convenient, but every time you hit a pot hole there's another hole in your car's roof.

[JeffDM @ Oct 10th 2007 5:26PM]

As far as I'm concerned, it's not news until there are actual pictures. Mock-ups and renderings don't count. I'm not going to go along with "you're going to have to trust us on this...".

[sdredge @ Oct 10th 2007 5:50PM]

Hey JeffDM / dudeinAmerica. I wrote the piece on Tech Digest, and can appreciate your scepticism. The phone does exist - it was in a case of their concepts - but LG was absolutely clear about the no photos rule, and under the circumstances, it would've been rude to have sneaked a pic out.

I've made it clear though, this is just a concept device which, although it looks well made (i.e. it's not just a watch face stuck onto a handset with glue), could just be LG experimenting, and have no official input from Rolex at all. So yeah, it might not end up as a commercial product, but I was open about that in the post ;o)

[fumanku @ Oct 10th 2007 5:57PM]

Absolutely bullshit.... I happen to work in the watch industry, and Rolex would NEVER EVER co-brand a product with any sort of other company- let along for a cellphone.