On the flip side
To see what may be coming around the bend, let’s take a closer look at today’s developing technologies. For geeks like my brother and me, it is the development of innovative applications and purpose that intrigue us, which is one of the reasons we expanded our business to included CAD/CAM services. And in the case of the jewellery industry, the primary focus of new applications is moving the business into the digital sphere, where information can be delivered by e-mail or presented to a wide audience through the Internet. In other words, the effective use of a limited resource that gains the largest viewing audience.
We have seen this idea applied in the diamond industry, where gemmological reports have turned live inventory into digital commodities that can be e-mailed anywhere in the world to secure a sale without the buyer ever examining the stone. In the case of CAD/CAM technology, the digital 3-D scanner is a new addition to the technology landscape, allowing users to take live products and convert them into digital objects that can be distributed, modified, and delivered electronically.
The technology is simple, but its application is quite broad. The scanner comprises software controlling a digital camera that orientates itself 360 degrees around an object to capture a complete set of images. The images are then stitched together into a 3-D view of the object that can be further modified using a wide range of software. These devices are available at various price points and are suitable for numerous applications. For instance, a hobbyist may take a 3-D scan of an object with the use of a tablet and have it printed. Those who are skilled in CAD software may modify the scan by building an attachment or addition onto it. A quick look at Shapeways—an online 3-D printing service—gives you a sense of the possibilities. (You may find the section under ‘gadgets’ particularly interesting.)
Digital scanners suitable for jewellery applications—which are quite varied and unique—are much more expensive due to the finer level of details required. And so if a matching wedding band is needed for an engagement ring, a scanned 3-D model can provide the designer with an excellent starting point for building the matching piece. Or if a customer has lost an earring, a replacement can now be a scan away. Another use for 3-D scanners is to digitally recreate a gemstone to be incorporated into a CAD design. This is often a good solution when the stone has a unique cut or its pavilion is difficult to measure due to an off-centre culet. It may also be an appropriate tool when the stone is particularly expensive and the seller is unwilling to part with it until the sale is complete. By creating a 3-D image of a stone, it is possible for a CAD designer to build a piece of jewellery without ever seeing or touching it.
