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Diamonds Are Forever, Technology A Few Minutes -- Can They Get Along?

Jewelry has been around since the birth of civilization. Technology, not so long. But a few prescient jewelry manufacturers like Dennis Ulrich, CEO of Richline, are hell-bent on melding the two.
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Founder, Living in Digital Times

Founder, Living in Digital Times
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Jewelry has been around since the birth of civilization. Technology, not so long. But a few prescient jewelry manufacturers like Dennis Ulrich, CEO of Richline, are hell-bent on melding the two. Ulrich told me that he was inspired to start exploring the possibilities of high-tech jewelry after seeing the glut of ugly plastic fitness bands on the market.

At the recent JCK Show in Las Vegas, a large industry gathering for the jewelry business, Richline hosted a special area showcasing the intersection of wearable technology and jewelry. The motivation? To educate its industry and stake its flag into the word of high-tech jewels. Here's a look at some of the items that drew the biggest "oohs" and "ahhs." Some address the process of making jewelry, some touch on the experience of buying it and some are just beautiful jeweled things to behold.

High-Tech Jewelry
Forster Rohner Textile Innovations(01 of10)
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Bejeweled meets the world of fabrics as electronic components are woven into fabric design. Forster Rohner Textile Innovations weaves electronic components into an illuminated fabric with a process they call e-broidery.
Fitlinxx AmpStrip (02 of10)
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What happens when the visible becomes invisible? The Fitlinxx’s Ampstrip is a small adhesive band aid-like, sensor-filled strip. Today, you can wear it on your torso all day but designers are already looking at incorporating the strip in shoes and clothing. The Ampstrip continuously monitors activity to provide feedback for everyone from high performance athletes to patients that benefit from constant monitoring.
Cooksongold(03 of10)
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Spinning gold into jewelry is no longer the stuff of fairytales. Start with a CAD drawing and watch the Cooksongold printer and layer after layer of powdered precious metals are fused together with laser technology. The process makes complex design, fine detail and total personalization of jewelry a lot easier.
Cuff(04 of10)
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Cuff is a system of jewelry that’s powered by a module called the CuffLinc. The module can be slipped in and out of this stunning assortment of jewelry from Richline including bracelets, necklaces and keychains. The CuffLinc module keeps women connected to their loved ones and friends. At the touch of a button, the Cuff sends out a message notifying a preselected group that the wearer needs help. Fusing the well-being of women, with beautiful design, the Cuff is meant to provide peace of mind without sacrificing elegance. Available this fall.
Swarovski Shine from Misfit(05 of10)
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Misfit Shine was already the sexiest fitness tracker out there, but a collaboration with Swarovski makes this metallic circular tracker with its subtle LED indicators even prettier. Available in pendant or bracelet varieties, the Swarovski Shine needs no cables for data transfer, no battery recharging and gives fitness and sleep tracking a luxurious look.
NEX Band(06 of10)
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The jewels in this bracelet are both smart and modular. It’s up to you what you’d like your bracelet to do. Each jeweled Mod has a different function – one can customize your cell phone or social network notifications, another track your lost phone, another find friends through proximity detection. You can swap them out or even exchange them with friends. This makes each bracelet absolutely unique and very chameleon-like in its behaviors. The idea is to buy one bracelet but add all the Mods you want. NEX Band should be available in October.
RioGrande DigitalWax 008 Rapid Prototype Machine(07 of10)
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Jewelers are at the mercy of customers who always want something “just a little bit different” from what they are shown. Rapid prototyping lets the jeweler whip up a 3D vision that the customer can behold before they buy. Bigger stone? More filigree? The Digital Wax machine comes in various styles and technologies making it affordable for even independent designers and retail businesses.
SAY™ Social Smart Jewelry (08 of10)
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Socially smart jewelry? The SAY™ necklace is a clever orb of light that fuses the functionality of fitness trackers, the hipness of in-the-moment social media experience and a unique piece of jewelry. Squarely aimed at Gen Z digital natives, the pendant and its app lets the wearer socialize and share with friends, follow the hottest celebs and thought leaders, and exchange messages within the SAY™ community. Available soon.
Victoria's Secret(09 of10)
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3D printing allows the ultimate in form-fitting, as well as the creation of jeweled garments. Victoria’s Secrets’ sparkling outfit, Snow Angel, was created by Bradley Rothenberg from Shapeways, a 3D printing company. He first used a 3D scanner to measure the model for a precise fit. Next, he used 3D printing to create the geometric filigree characteristics of the design’s snowflake motif. Ultimately, the outfit received the Swarovski touch, encrusted with millions of illuminating crystals.
Ear-o-Smart(10 of10)
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What does a smart earring look like? Ear-o-Smart is elegant and understated, but it’s also one hard-working earring. The earring doubles as a heart rate monitor, calorie counter and activity tracker. Bluetooth and smart sensors are part of the secret sauce.

Robin Raskin is founder of Living in Digital Times (LIDT), a team of technophiles who bring together top experts and the latest innovations that intersect lifestyle and technology. LIDT produces conferences and expos at CES and throughout the year focusing on how technology enhances every aspect of our lives through the eyes of today's digital consumer.

Added Note: Raskin attended this conference as a guest of JCK and moderated a panel about the Future of Wearables.

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