In 2014, Samsung introduced the Gear S, a redesigned smartwatch that was meant to prepare the company for the then upcoming smartwatch from Apple. While it was a first (that ridiculous SIM tray at the back of the watch and the curved OLED display which we loved), the Gear S did not do so well in the market. As a result, Samsung, yet again, went back to the drawing board and came up with the fantastic Gear S2 which we saw late last year. So naturally, we expect a brand new Gear S smartwatch from Samsung this year, right? Since the Gear S lineup has been exclusively unveiled at IFA in Berlin the last two Septembers, it is only fair that we expect the same this year.
According to a report in the Korea Herald, we’re very right to assume the above. Indeed, Samsung has a Gear S launch slated for early September 2016 at IFA in Berlin, Germany.
But that’s a given. It’s not the big news. The big news is that Samsung is lining up what will likely put to shame everyone who thought parting with $10,000 or more ($17,000) for an Apple Watch Edition was an ill-timed joke. Apparently, the company has partnered with luxury Swiss watchmaker de Grisogono to debut a $15,000 “ultra-luxury” version of the Gear S3 in March 2017, six months after the Gear S3 is unveiled.
The “ultra-luxury” smartwatch is expected to have lots of precious metals and rocks to justify its hefty price tag.
This is not the first time that Samsung and de Grisogono will be doing this though. The two companies partnered for a luxury Gear S2 which costs pretty much the same price as what the luxury Gear S3 is set to go for.
Here’s one more thing to look out for in 2017 if you have lots of cash to burn and enjoy living on the fast lane of life.
Via PhoneArena
