US-based carved pearl jewellery maker, Galatea, has launched a cultured pearl which can record and play personalised messages. Each ‘Momento’ pearl is embedded with an NFC (near field communication) chip that enables the user to create a voice message using the Galatea app that can be played whenever the pearl is tapped against a compatible mobile device. Chi Huynh, the founder of Galatea and inventor of the Momento pearl, said the new patent-pending pearl, which can also store images and videos, takes smart jewellery to a completely new, emotional level.
“This is where the future of jewellery begins,” he said. “Despite its high-tech interface, the real interest in the Momento Pearl lies in its ability to summon a voice, a memory and emotion. A person can ‘live’ in this pearl forever, as it holds the voice and memories of a loved one.”
He said the pearls could be used to record and play a wide variety of significant memories such as wedding vows, birthday greetings, favourite religous passages, and children’s laughter.
The launch collection of Momento jewellery is made up of 29 pendants, 26 earrings and eight rings set with Tahitian and freshwater pearls.
Huynh, who plans on introducing more NFC-enabled jewellery in the coming months, said the Momento pearl is just a natural extension of Galatea’s revolutionary work with pearls and pearl culturing over the last 20 years.
Known for its hand-carved cultured Tahitian and freshwater pearls, in 2005 the company introduced the Galatea Pearl (a pearl that is cultured using a coloured stone bead). After the pearl’s nacre is carved away, the colour can be seen below its surface.
The new pearl can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6jUcs9feP0