May 14, 2015 | By Alec
The necklace with a QR code ingraved on one side.
While we here at 3ders regularly come across beautiful and original 3D printed jewelry that seeks to redefine the jewelry industry itself, we rarely see necklaces or rings that are given a whole new function. But that’s exactly what Singapore-based jewelry designers Polymchemy have done, and I’m not just talking about a ring that also functions as a bottle opener. Instead, they have brought 21rst century technology into the jewelry world by using 3D printing to engrave necklaces with Bitcoin addresses. Effectively, this turns these necklaces into Bitcoin wallets or debit cards, that can be scanned to make a payment.
This very cool feature fits perfectly with the goals of this young, but exciting team of jewelry designers. Founded in 2012 in Singapore by a group of artists and programmers, their goal has always been to design cool accessories for fashion and technology conscious consumers. Marrying style and technology has thus basically become their signature work. As the young founder Aaron Issac told reporters, ‘The Jewelry industry has always focused their efforts on brick & mortar stores,’ he says. ‘Selling online and ecommerce has not always been their priority. Many jewelry companies are still selling through traditional means and have poor online strategies. With more and more people purchasing jewelry online, it’s time the jewelry industry adapt with the evolving trends.’ And what’s more fashionable than bitcoins?
Just an example of what Polychemy does: rings with custom names or words engraved on them
These bitcoin QR codes are thus effectively just the result of the highly customizable design process Polychemy has perfected over the years. In a nutshell, the key is to ensure that every product they sell has been meticulously designed to suit to wearer’s preferences. When ordering, customers can even personalize their own jewelry straight in the web browser, and see the results in real time 3D before completing the order. Customers can choose from a whole selection of premade jewelry and customize metals, colors, gems, and even texts.
As you might expect, 3D printing plays a key role in transforming those personal touches to the real thing. Polychemy turns to 3D files into 3D printed wax molds, which are used to cast the metal (and jems) into. ‘The technology we have developed here at polychemy really opens up a whole new world of design to us. I believe we will see more personalized designs & algorithmic/iterative designs. I am very excited for the future,’ Issac says.
A ring with custom braille.
In that respect storing data, through URLs or QR codes, was the logical next step. Theoretically, this means they can turn any accessory into a scanable container of data, such as a link to your Bitcoin account. ‘Polychemy QR Code Necklaces allows our customers to engrave any-type of QR code data unto the surface of the pendant. Customers can engrave Names, Url’sand Bitcoin address too! There are not moving parts or complicated electronics. It acts just like a paper wallet. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most secure,’ Issac says, adding that they have always been fascinated with the concept of Bitcoin and wanted to do what they can to promote the community.
If you’re interested in getting your hands on one of these cool Bitcoin debit cards, go here for more information. Issac and his team, meanwhile are already looking for new options and have set their sights on penetrating the East Asian E-commerce markets with their highly customizable jewelry. ‘We realized that there was search traffic for name necklaces in other languages — Japanese, Korean, Chinese,’ he says to reporters. ‘Most companies don’t do this because it’s too niche but we can combine all the niches together and capture a lot of this market.’
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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