2. 2The Whys of Wearables
Wearable technology incorporates advanced electronic
technology into accessories and clothing. When successful,
it creates the ultimate marriage of form and function —
stunning fashion that also serves a practical purpose.
Wearable devices have had marketplace presence for quite some time in the health sector — hearing
aids, insulin pumps and pacemakers, for example. In the past seven years, wearable fitness technology
has made the leap from simple heart rate monitors to complex activity tracking devices like the Fitbit.
The popularity and proliferation of these devices has brought a whole new audience and awareness to
wearables, and the market has been expanding exponentially ever since. Interactive, accessible
products like smart watches and other smart devices are in high demand.
In the fine jewelry industry, wearable technology comes with an added expectation — style.
Wearables must be as fashionable as they are functional.
Putting the Wearable in Wearable Technology
Examples of how wearable technology is being used in
the jewelry industry today:
Health and Fitness
• Netatmo June bracelet alerts the wearer when UV levels are high
• Tori Burch Fitbit integrates health tracking tech with high design
• Misfit Shine Bloom necklace houses an activity tracker in a stainless
steel pendant
Quality of Life
• Many devices notify wearers when an important call/text/event
arrives: Ringly, Zazzi, Rebecca Minkoff for Case-Mate, Beacon & Lively,
MEMI, etc.
• Wristify bracelet actively heats and cools skin temperature
Safety
• Cuff bracelet notifies authorities/contacts if you are in danger
• First Sign hair clip transmits your location and audio to emergency services
3. 3The Whys of Wearables
Wearable technology is a distinct and growing part of
the fine jewelry market.
The wearable tech industry is in its infancy, but there’s no question about its potential. IDTechEx projects
a $64.3 billion wearables market by 2025, nearly tripling this year’s $24.2 billion tally. The jewelry
industry is a growing piece of that market. By 2018, CSS Insight projects that more than 7.5 million
pieces of wearable technology jewelry will be in use.
MEETING CUSTOMER DEMAND
Market awareness is at an all-time high: 70 percent of U.S. consumers know about wearable tech, and
15 percent are already using it, according to a 2014 Nielsen survey. Wearable technology allows jewelers
to interact with customers in novel ways. Loyal clients have another reason to visit, and new clients are
drawn to the business.
If functional technology is king, what
can jewelry offer? The jewelry industry
has the expertise to deliver form that
wows as much as function through
wearable technology
CREATING A UNIQUE SELLING
PROPOSITION
The jewelry industry has been steadily losing
market share to technology for decades.
Diamond earrings have been replaced by
iPhones at anniversary celebrations and under Christmas trees. Parents send their kids to college
with gaming systems, not a keepsake bracelet to remind them of home.
According to a 2014 report by Endeavor Partners, mass-market wearable technology adoption
will ultimately be gated by the aesthetics and comfort of devices. While early adopters may be
more forgiving, mass-market consumers are far more discerning about accessories they wear on
a daily basis.
Demand for wearable technology is growing, and there is strong competition in the market to
meet the challenge. Companies that integrate technologies into jewelry designs:
1. Are positioned on the leading edge of the wearable technology industry, and
2. Become a necessary and valuable part of the technology supply chain.
4.
5. 5The Whys of Wearables
Jewelry designers and manufacturers have an edge over tech
companies in the burgeoning wearable technology industry.
If a piece doesn’t appeal to its target market, it is no longer wearable in the practical sense, becoming
instead technology that no one will use. When fine jewelry is the baseline, aesthetics come first. There’s
no ignoring the flip side though: If the technology doesn’t work seamlessly, the piece might be wearable
but it won’t serve the purpose its wearer demands.
STARTING THE PROCESS
Entering the wearable technology jewelry market is a three-part process. Step one is assessing and
utilizing in-house talent to conceptualize design. Step two is partnering with a technology company to
integrate functionality. The final step is working with a protoyping and manufacturing 3D printing
jewelry expert like Solidscape that can:
• Handle designs with thin walls to aid in efficacy of technology
• Realize complex designs and intricate details with incredible precision
• Build prototypes quickly to aid in design and development
• Provide rapid, customizable manufacturing
• Produce products in-house for expediency and cost-effectiveness
• Deliver castability in virtually any material
Designing Successful Wearable Technology
Benchmarks for driving wearable tech fashion interest,
adoption and utilization:
• Design — Consumers will want to wear it every day
• Fashion — Designs reflect consumers’ sense of style
• Utility — The technology solves a specific problem
• Function — The technology works and is intuitive to use
• Comfort — Pieces fit and are ergonomic
• Quality — Pieces are built to last with durable, beautiful materials
• Stealth — Designs incorporate technology discretely
• Collaboration — Design and technology teams work together
• Process — Designs can be prototyped rapidly for evaluation and upgrades
• Protection — Intellectual property is sourced and protected
6. 6The Whys of Wearables
Learn more about breaking into the wearable
technology market.
Visit solid-scape.com
Email precision@solid-scape.com
Call +1 603 429 9700
Solidscape is the leading manufacturer of high-precision 3D printers,
materials and software for rapid fine jewelry prototyping and manufacturing.
