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RAPAPORT... Jewelry brand Galatea: Jewelry by Artist unveiled its near field communication (NFC) empowered Momento Pearl™, defining it as the first cultured pearl to enable shared digital content on a compatible mobile device.
Taking smart jewelry to the next level, Galatea implanted an NFC chip inside the pearl, where a tiny computer is powered by induction energy. Using the Galatea app, the user records a message or uploads an audio file to the jewel. By tapping the pearl against an NFC-enabled mobile device, the audio is played and other digital material may be displayed. The brand produced a video (click play in the screen below) that draws attention to how the pearl can create an emotional connection.
The Momento Pearl (patent-pending U.S. Patent No. 14/517.827 and trademark 86/434,536) can store a variety of digital content such as images, voice messages and videos.
"This is where the future of jewelry begins," said Momento Pearl inventor and Galatea's founder, Chi Huynh. "A person can 'live' in this pearl forever, as it holds the voice and memories of a loved one." Despite its high-tech interface, the real interest in the Momento Pearl lies in its ability to summon a voice, a memory and emotion, said Huynh, who plans on introducing more NFC-enabled jewelry such as gemstones and diamonds over the coming months.
While the Momento Pearl is unique, Huynh said it is just a natural extension of Galatea's revolutionary work with pearls and pearl culturing over the past 20 years. The Momento Pearl collection is already known for hand-carved cultured Tahitian and freshwater pearls, and Galatea also owns a number of patents for its unique pearl and gemstone jewelry. In 2005, the company introduced the Galatea Pearl™, a pearl that is cultured using a colored stone bead. After the pearl's nacre is carved away, the color can be seen below its surface.
The complete collection of Momento Pearl jewelry includes 29 pendants, 26 earrings and eight rings in 14-karat gold with Tahitian and freshwater pearls. Manufacturer-suggested retail prices begin at $270. The Momento Pearl collection will be available at Galatea authorized retail jewelers in January 2015, just in time for Valentine's Day.
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