Fitbit didn’t start it, and we doubt they’ll have the final say. Wearable technology goes way back to the ‘80s. (Anyone remember calculator wristwatches?) The initial thrill of being able to wear all our high tech is starting to simmer down. Now, sights are set on beautifying it. That’s why technology jewelry is the next big thing.
Companies like Cuff—which currently creates Bluetooth-equipped costume jewelry—have shown over the past year that it’s possible to more elegantly (and discreetly) incorporate technology into what we wear. Fine jewelry is next in line. Ready to have your gold pendant alert you to a text message?
Over this past weekend at the JCK international jewelry show in Vegas (it’s a big one), Richline unveiled its new line of wearable-tech fine jewelry. Some of the pieces are embedded with standalone technology, focused on things like personalization, notifications, and personal security. Others are equipped to be compatible with the likes of Fitbit. You probably don’t recognize the name Richline, but the company is one of the foremost producers of fine jewelry in the USA. That is, they’re trendsetters.
As jewelers, we know a thing or two about weddings. Yet we can’t say that ten years ago we saw this unusual marriage between the tech world and the fine jewelry world coming. It’s quite a game-changer, blurring the edges that define what jewelry does. Will jewelry of the future be a workhorse or a beauty queen? Will all of it be both? We’re not yet thinking about adding a technology pro to our staff, but we’re definitely excited to see the how Richline’s big reveal is going to ripple through our industry. Can you imagine the day when your favorite sapphire ring can also serve as your pedometer or notify you of an incoming call? Would you even wear such a thing? How do you feel about the change?
