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Is 3-D the Industry’s Next Big Thing?

May 26, 2019 8:22 AM   By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... In an era when consumers are more tech-savvy than ever, and online jewelers are taking business from brick-and-mortar, tools that enhance the customer experience can help retailers draw customers to their stores.

Many industries have been using 3-D for years to improve consumers’ buying experience. However, the jewelry retail trade has only recently begun to harness the benefits the technology offers.

Feeding the instant-gratification demand

Desktop Metal, a US-based 3-D printing business, has partnered with designer Christian Tse to create Studio System, new 3-D printing technology for the jewelry industry, which it will debut at JCK Las Vegas, taking place May 31 to June 3. The system allows jewelers to produce highly detailed custom jewelry, tooling and metal molds in-house.

Using the technology, retailers can make prototypes for new designs in just a few hours, Desktop Metal notes. The company currently offers the option for stainless steel printing, and is developing the technology for precious metals.

“This puts the entire production process literally in the hands of the designer,” says Tse. “And the batch processing will facilitate faster turnaround times for orders, allowing partner retailers to exceed their customer’s expectations.”

A rough in hand

Sarine Technologies, which manufactures equipment for the diamond industry, is offering three-dimensional modeling of rough stones. The 3D-Origin, which the company launched last week, is an add-on to the Sarine Diamond Journey report. It creates a replica of the rough-diamond from which a polished is formed.

The idea behind the product is to provide consumers looking to purchase polished-diamond jewelry with a tactile connection to the original rough stone.

“The diamond and jewelry industry is just discovering the amazing opportunities technology creates for the modern retail environment,” said David Block, CEO of Sarine Technologies. “Not just as a means of luring customers, but also to engage customers’ hearts and minds through digital storytelling of the uniquely complex process of polishing a diamond.”

Image: A rough-stone replica created using 3D-Origin. (Sarine Technologies)
Tags: 3-D, 3-D printing technology, Christian Tse, David Block, Desktop Metal, Rapaport News, Sarine, Sarine Diamond Journey, Sarine Technologies, Studio System
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