One thing Apple still applies from Steve Job’s original vision is that the company only moves when the time is right for mass market adoption. It has no interest in releasing technologies before they are ready to be released. So if it decided to release an Apple Watch it is because its data showed the mass market was ready for wearable technology. Whether right or wrong in its decision this time only time will tell, however history shows they tend to get it right, so if Apple says wearable technologies are upon us, they probably are.
For LA based MOCCI studio the future of wearable technology will revolve around jewellery. From many angles a watch is just that, smart jewellery, so what they developed is a line of 3D printed jewellery that would give them the possibility to evolve it and adapt it into smart jewellery to meet the wearable technology needs of the future while factoring in the aesthetic value.
The diverse team is made up of engineers, entrepreneurs, artists, models, actors and photographers; that love technology and have a passion for style and art. They spent the past nine months learning about the possibilities offered by 3D printing and studying possible applications for Arduino and the Internet of Things. To do this they used all the tools that the “modern”, distributed, 3D printing industry is making available.
All designs are created using different CAD software, from open source Blender to ZBrush and AutoCAD, with NetFabb to prep the file for 3D printing. Each piece is carefully configured for weight, shape and function. The pro types were built through a University Lab’s MakerBots, through 3D Hubs, Shapeways and “just about any 3D printer we could get our hands on”.
For the lost wax casting of the final models, MOCCI turned mainly to local jewellers in the Los Angeles Jewellery District, however they also suggest using services such as i.materialise or shapeways. One company in particular, JewelryDistrict, specializes specifically in 3D printing for casting for jewellery.
All the first MOCCI pieces are in 22k Gold Plated Brass and they include a Mobius bracelet starting at $129, a money clip, a lego brick pendant, a year of the horse medallion, a pyramid pendant and a ruby ring priced at $349 for early birds. The entire collection goes for $999. The money raised initially will be used to purchase a wax 3D printer and to develop signature customizable jewellery applications (web based and iOS), while preparing the field for future innovations in luxury wearable technology, from bio-monitoring to communication, GPS and, who knows, maybe even a golden apple shaped watch.
Now they are ready to launch and are doing so through a Kickstarter campaign to go live this week.
The first items:
