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This Month in Luxury: Bulgari's mechanical smart watch

This Month in Luxury: Bulgari's mechanical smart watch

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The Bulgari Diagono Magnesium Concept Watch

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Welcome to This Month in Luxury, presented by Micah Singleton, The Verge's resident Luxury Director. In this monthly (or whenever we remember) column, I will take you on a completely superficial journey of opulence, pointing out one device, artifact, or service an upscale individual such as yourself would take pleasure in experiencing. Let the journey begin.

One of the biggest dreams of tech-loving horology enthusiasts, like myself, is a traditional watch that doesn't betray its history and mechanics while incorporating key pieces of 21st century components; a true "smart" watch, not a smartphone on your wrist. Until now, there have only been smartwatches with bulky casings and digital displays, or traditional watches like the Withings Activité with activity trackers but no real smart features.

But now that dream is (almost) a reality, thanks to the Bulgari Diagono Magnesium Concept Watch.

Diagono Magnesium

In partnership with WiseKey, a Swiss cybersecurity firm, Bulgari has created a truly beautiful watch featuring an automatic movement, magnesium case, and a ceramic bezel, that can also act as your encrypted digital wallet. Thanks to an NFC chip, the Diagono Magnesium will be able to store and access your personal information like your passwords, bank accounts, and credit cards, which can be managed through the Bulgari Vault app on your smartphone.

The data isn't actually stored on your phone, it's held in WiseKey's underground data storage center in the Swiss Alps and accessed once the Bulgari Vault app is unlocked by tapping the Diagono Magnesium against your phone. For security reasons, obviously.

Bulgari says the Diagono Magnesium will be able to unlock doors and electronic locks, activate alarm systems for your home and car, act as your boarding pass or passport, and even your credit card. If Bulgari can deliver on its promises, this will be the first traditional watch to stay true to its horological roots while embracing the future, and that will definitely be a first.

The Diagono Magnesium will retail for $4,600 when it hits stores. A release date has not been set.