One of the most interesting jewellery-related devices on display was a bracelet manufactured by Looksee. Marketed as an “advanced wearable,” the cuff features an always-on, e-ink display (like a Kindle or other reading device) that connects to a smartphone or other Bluetooth-capable device. Housed between leather, sterling silver, or stainless steel, the display uses proprietary software to create an ever-changing display of random patterns. It can also be programmed to show the time, as well as text messages received on a smartphone. A demonstration at the booth saw a photo taken of a unique pattern that was then programmed into the bracelet, demonstrating a uniquely customizable aspect of this bracelet. One of only five finalists in the techcrunch.com ‘Hardware Battlefield 2015, the product is on its way to funding and will no doubt be commercially available very soon.
Judging from the array of wearables at CES, it is clear tech companies are becoming jewellers/watchmakers in a sense, and have had to learn about marrying function and fashion. Jewellers/watchmakers are now faced with the same challenge, as they try to manoeuvre the intricacies of incorporating technology into their designs if they want to get into the wearables sector. One could make a strong point that consumer electronics have captured a huge segment of market share in overall sales, especially during some of the all-important ‘gifting’ seasons. Jewellers and watchmakers can recapture at least some of that segment with the flair only our industry can provide if they choose to integrate technology with design.
Staying in the know
It is highly unlikely the pace of technical innovation will slow perceptibly in the next decade and it will be up to the individual jeweller as to how they adapt to—by adopting or avoiding—this trend. As an observer, I found wading through the hype and fanfare of CES quite rewarding. Rapidly changing technology demands that we carefully observe trends and keep our minds and options open for arising opportunities. New technologies hit the show floor in events like CES in quick succession, and a resourceful manufacturer or retailer within the jewellery industry can maintain and/or build market position by staying informed.
Gary Dawson is owner of Gary Dawson Designs, an online custom design operation that was once featured as a “Best of the Best” by Instore magazine, as well as Dawson Distributions LLC, a supplier of CAD/CAM solutions for jewellers. Dawson has nearly 40 years’ experience in creating designs that capture the personalities and stories of his customers, and he is a frequent contributor to MJSA Journal. He has also delivered seminars and presentations at numerous events, including AGTA GemFair, Portland Jewelry Symposium, and the Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology. Dawson can be reached via e-mail at gary@garydawsondesigns.com.
