SAN DIMAS, Calif., Feb. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Galatea: Jewelry by Artist -- the company known for revolutionizing cultured pearls -- has launched a Kickstarter campaign (http://bit.ly/momentopearl ) to introduce the world's first smart pearl -- Momento Pearl™ -- directly to the public. The proceeds of the $50,000 campaign will be used to manufacture the jewelry and enhance the collection with new designs and line extensions in 2015.
Galatea's Kickstarter campaign for its patent-pending Momento Pearl has been created to put this amazing new product in the hands of more people. Using NFC technology, the Momento Pearl interacts with an NFC-enabled Android phone to play voice and text messages, images and more. Kickstarter prices begin at $95.
Galatea's Momento Pearl is an amazing piece of jewelry. Using 21st century technology, it customizes everything from a voice message to a URL for an online photo album to be played on an NFC-enabled Android phone. Creating and preserving memories, Momento Pearl is truly a "gift from the heart."
This hand-carved 14mm Tahitian Momento Pearl ring in 14k white gold is available during Galatea's Kickstarter campaign for $1,450. Style #04B
Create memories, record your children's laughter, link to an online photo album, this Galatea Momento Pearl pendant in Sterling silver features an 11mm hand-carved Tahitian pearl and is being offered at an early bird price of $125. Style #01B
Momento Pearl is a unique piece of wearable technology that combines the beauty of a traditional piece of precious pearl jewelry with the science of near field communication (NFC). Think of Momento Pearl as the 21st-century version of a cherished locket. "This is where the future of jewelry begins," says inventor and Galatea founder Chi Huynh. "A person can 'live' in this pearl forever, as it holds the voice and memories of a loved one." Despite its high-tech interface, the real interest in Momento Pearl lies in its ability to make an emotional connection with the wearer, says Huynh, who plans on introducing more NFC-enabled jewelry including gemstones and diamonds over the coming months. From words of love and encouragement to wedding vows, baby pictures and family memories, the emotional connections the Momento Pearl can make are truly endless.
Each Momento Pearl contains a tiny chip that reacts when it is held near an Android phone with NFC capabilities. After the first touch, the Galatea App automatically downloads. Following simple instructions, Momento Pearl can then store voice messages, images, texts and web links that can be played whenever the pearl touches the phone.
Momento Pearl (U.S. patent pending No. 14/517.827) is just one of a handful of unique cultured pearl products that the California-based company has introduced over the past 10 years. In 2006, the company introduced the Galatea Pearl, a patented (U.S. Patent 7,062,940) Tahitian pearl that is cultured using a colored stone bead. When the nacre (pearl coating) is carved away, the colored stone can be seen through the carving. Galatea is also known for its artistically hand-carved pearls. Using proprietary techniques developed over many years, Galatea Tahitian and freshwater carved pearls are each individual works of art. Over 4 dozen carving styles are available.
To help build visibility for the product and introduce it to a wider audience, Galatea is offering a limited amount of freshwater and Tahitian Momento Pearl jewelry beginning with the "early bird" price of $95 for a freshwater Momento Pearl pendant in Sterling silver and $125 for the same with a Tahitian pearl. All Momento Pearls are hand-carved with a unique surface design, giving them an easily identifiable look that distinguishes them from other pearl jewelry. Galatea's Kickstarter is also offering the patented Galatea Pearl as a pendant in 14k white gold with a .03-ct. diamond for $750.
Why Android -- Not iPhone?
Despite the fact that the iPhone 6 has NFC capabilities, Apple has not allowed developers access to the code that would allow the creation of an iPhone App for Momento Pearl...yet. Apple is behind the curve on this one as Android phones started adding NFC to their phones 5 years ago. The good news is that the Galatea Momento Pearl will need nothing changed in the jewelry itself to work with iPhone: Only the App will need to be changed. In the meantime, we hope you'll join us in asking Apple to release the code for iPhone's NFC and allow the technology to flourish. Here's a link to our campaign, inviting Apple to the NFC party by expanding NFC technology for all users: http://bit.ly/applesaysno
About Galatea: Jewelry by Artist (www.galateausa.com): With an uncompromising artistic vision, Chi Huynh, founder of Galatea, has created some of the world's most beautiful and unusual jewelry collections--collections that rely upon pearls and other gemstones that have been transformed by proprietary and patented processes. A poet, painter and humanitarian, Galatea, founded in 1994, employs over 150 people in the U.S. and Vietnam. Contact Chi Huynh directly at (951)202-1227 for interviews or additional information.
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