Fine Diamond Jewelry with these features might just be around the corner. The future is now. Wearable tech and elegant jewelry design might sound like two incongruous concepts, but a new accessories collection targeted at improving personal safety could change that.
Cuff has designed a jewelry range consisting of contemporary bracelets, necklaces and key chains which hide the CuffLinc, a small wireless chip which links to a smartphone app via Bluetooth.
Users who have the app invite friends or family to join their ‘Cuff circle’. Pressing on the jewelry will send out an alert and exact location to those in the wearer’s contact circle. Those wearing the cuff will feel it vibrate, and location information will be sent to each user’s phone.
Although safety is the primary focus of the design, Cuff can also be used to simply let someone know you are trying to contact them by sending a weaker signal.
Cuff was founded by Deepa Sood, former VP of Product Development at luxury retailer Restoration Hardware. She credited her role as a mother with propelling her to launch the brand.
“The new Cuff collection wearables are more chic than geek, wrapping smart technology into elegant, fashionable pieces that we all want to wear,” said Sood. “We don’t believe that we should be forced to choose between smarts and beauty when it comes to wearable accessories.”
Designs include chunky cuffs made from smooth or textured leather, metal or silicone. Necklaces feature leaf motifs or pearl detailsand the entire collection is based on a strikin color palette of black, silver and gold tones.
The chip can be switched between accessories and should last for one year without needing to be charged, the brand says.
The technology is compatible with iOS technology, although the brand hasn’t ruled out introducing an Android app in the future.
The range is available to pre-order from Cuff with prices ranging from $50 to $150.