Watch enthusiasts will no doubt get the joke Seiko and Pepsi are making together here: the Rolex GMT Master II, originally made in Pan Am colors, is called the “Pepsi” in the watch community for its similarity to the soda brand’s logo. It has been an iconic collector’s watch for decades. By partnering with Pepsi officially, and going with a dark color, Seiko has created the Dark Pepsi GMT, and Pepsi finally has an official say in the matter. Both pieces are limited to 7,000 units and will be released in September. The SRPL99 will retail for $395 on a stainless steel strap, and the SSK047 will cost $550 on a custom-printed Pepsi rubber strap. The bad news? If you didn’t get on the pre-order list fast, chances are you’ll have to wait for these to resurface on reseller sites. —Parker Hall
Sonos to Raise Prices Due to Tariffs
As President Trump’s wide-ranging (and fast-changing) tariff plan rolls out, we’re starting to get confirmation that higher prices on imported goods do, in fact, pass down to the consumer, with the latest coming from recently appointed Sonos CEO, Tom Conrad. As reported by Bloomberg, Conrad touched on Sonos’ forthcoming price increases during his first quarterly earnings report.
Telling investors that the brand has worked to “minimize the downstream impact” to Sonos customers, Conrad explained that most of Sonos’ products are manufactured in Vietnam and Malaysia, which he said will be subject to new 20 percent and 19 percent tariff rates, respectively, under Trump’s plan.
For context, other electronics brands have been less explicit about the tariff increases directly, with JBL blaming a $50 price increase on its new Tour One M3 headphones months after launch on “global industry pressures.” Just how much Sonos plans to raise prices and which products will be affected remains to be seen. —Ryan Waniata
Motorola Debuts a Bedazzled Razr
Courtesy of Motorola
Remember bedazzling your Razr? You can relive those days with Motorola’s Brilliant Collection, which includes the latest Razr 2025 and Moto Buds Loop, in a new Pantone Ice Melt color, complete with Swarovski crystals. Motorola first announced a partnership with Swarovski in April when it debuted its latest Razr phones, though the original collaboration began with the new Moto Buds Loop wireless earbuds in a French Oak color.
Now, the base Razr 2025 model is getting the dazzling upgrade with 35 Swarovski crystals on the leather-inspired finish. The Moto Buds Loop is getting the same treatment as its original debut, just in the new Ice Melt color. The company says limited quantities are available and “more curated device collections” are on the way.
How much does a bedazzled Razr cost? The same as the normal model, apparently. The Brilliant Collection retails for $1,000, and it includes the phone and the wireless earbuds. That’s the same amount you’d pay if you bought the Moto Buds Loop and Razr 2025 at MSRP. Not too bad for anyone desperately trying to recreate their rhinestone-rich 2005 wardrobe.