On September 22, in Ho Chi Minh City, the first-ever gold-plated iPhone 17 Pro Max in the world was unveiled, meticulously crafted by Vietnamese artisan Thang Eric and the team at G’Ace International. The device was completed after 33 continuous hours of labor.

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Artisan Thang Eric confirms the iPhone 17 Pro Max was completed after 33 hours of non-stop work. Photo: Provided by subject

Right after Apple officially released the iPhone 17 Pro Max, G’Ace International introduced its customized luxury edition named “MONARCH.”

This handcrafted version is limited to just 199 units globally. Each device comes with a unique serial number and certificate of authenticity.

The 9-member G’Ace team completely disassembled the original device - removing the frame, camera bezel, buttons, and rear panel - before altering the materials and finishing surfaces, all while maintaining the phone’s full functionality.

For the frame, originally made from Apple’s anodized Series 7000 aluminum alloy, the team applied a micro-polishing technique to remove the protective coating, then plated the structure in 18K rose gold.

The original Ceramic Shield back glass was replaced with polished 304L stainless steel, CNC-milled and gold-plated.

The camera housing was recrafted from Grade 5 titanium, polished, and plated in gold. Some variants are embellished with diamonds.

Lastly, the buttons and Apple logo were CNC-machined from solid titanium, gold-coated, and optionally adorned with diamonds.

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Close-up of the gold-plated iPhone 17 Pro Max crafted in Vietnam
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Thanks to the new materials, this luxury version offers higher durability and impact resistance than the original. G’Ace International offers a two-year warranty on both the plating and craftsmanship.

Back in 2024, G’Ace crafted a gold iPhone 16 Pro Max over a seven-day process. Completing the iPhone 17 Pro Max in just 33 hours marks a significant leap in technique and precision.

According to Thang Eric, the process required meticulous handling of complex metal surfaces while ensuring mechanical accuracy across the device.

The “MONARCH” edition of the iPhone 17 Pro Max marks the first time a Vietnam-based team has globally launched a gold-plated iPhone, helping elevate Vietnamese craftsmanship in the high-end tech scene.

PV