There are some things we don’t want made out of solid gold—well, we can’t actually think of any, but we’re sure there is one or two. Gold phones, jewelry, accessories, skincare—basically anything just shy of the Midas touch—and it looks like Bulova agrees with us. The Swiss watch brand recently unveiled their pure 24-karat gold watch, made for the Joseph Bulova Collection and conceptualized by Bulova Corporation President Gregory Thumm. As the world’s first watch made with pure 999.9 gold, Bulova intended to make the piece not only breathtaking in craftsmanship, but in beauty, functionality and luxury.
Using a specialized, patent-pending method of manufacturing, Bulova managed to maintain quality in the gold while also ensuring function and Swiss watch-making standards. Constructed in a capsule form, the casing is anchored by grade-five titanium to create a watertight enclosure that is water resistant up to 30 meters. An overlying sub-bezel keeps the gold encasement safe with bumpers to absorb shock and holds the anti-reflective sapphire crystal in place. The strap is a layer of stainless steel and alligator leather for luxury as well as maximum strength and security.
Priced at $42,000, this is the most expensive watch the brand has ever created, but also one of the finest. Only 32 of these timepieces have been made, offering the exclusivity and quality that comes with limited-edition watches; it’s even been recognized by WatchPro, the United Kingdom’s foremost watch industry publication, as the 2014 “Innovative Watch of the Year.” Housed in a hand-made presentation case (covered with 24-karat gold leaf, of course), this timepiece is an innovation and treasure that will likely be a favorite in any collection.
