Sleek, Chic and Smart Jewelry

Digital health and wearable technology appears to be an upward trend for 2015 and the future, with many companies bridging the gap between technologically-advanced activity-trackers and stylish, wearable accessibility. Though functionality may trump style in most, these companies have taken it upon themselves to integrate the wearable tech trend with women and dazzling design in mind.

Withings Activité  $450
This sleek, Swiss watch is professional, stylish, and versatile with an elegant design.  In fact, unless told,  you’d never know all the interesting health stats it’s tracking. Although one of the most expensive fitness-trackers currently  on the market, this savvy watch does give others tech timepieces a fair competition.

Style Quota: Keeping to classic, minimalist standards, this watch comes in two face colors of black or white, as well as two premium leather band colors of brown and black. The glass dome itself is scratch-resistant sapphire. Along with your leather band, a silicone strap comes in the box for a quick and easy switch to a more sporty mode.  It is also waterproof (with the silicone straps) to easily track laps in the pool.

Tech Talk: The sensor is hidden beneath the dome with two dials on the watch-face: one for reading traditional analog time, the other to show your proximity to reaching the daily suggested steps of 10,000.

Also, focusing on the health market, this watch connects through the Withings Health Mate app which you pair with Bluetooth. The app is well designed and easy to use: you can set health goals, read up on tips and reminders, and even connect to others who have the app. No direct notifications come to you from the watch itself, in order to keep distractions to a minimum.

When synced with your phone, the app can track many of your daily activities, such as calories burned and distance covered. Another great feature is that when wearing it at bedtime, the app has shows a sleep-tracker shows your light and deep slumbers throughout the night. Upon waking, a silent alarm, using vibrations, will alert you, which you then turn off via your phone.

Summary: Overall, this wearable is perfect for those who want a smart, “stealth” way to track health in their busy, daily life while looking stylish and professional, not cumbersome,  doing it. I for one don’t leave the house without it!

Cuff, Pre-order starting at $29
Cuff is a wearable tech jewelry startup that prides itself on “activity tracking with style.” They have teamed up with Richline Group, a large jewelry manufacturer in the U.S., to create a line of sleek, tech-savvy jewelry for women.

Style Quota: Cuff has a small, square device that varies in style and that acts as an electronic module to click into accessories like necklaces and bracelets.  The goal is to ensure that it matches a variety of outfits. Cuff comes in a cute jewelry box where it’s easy to store the variety of baubles and bangles you choose for the device.

Tech Talk: Cuff buzzes with notifications from pre-chosen contacts when you get a call, as well as if you leave your phone behind so you can go back and get it. Like the Withings Activité, Cuff monitors your movement and tracks your activity via smartphone app when connected to Bluetooth. In the app you can set daily goals, input your diet, and monitor your calorie intake in relation to calories burned.

A security feature accompanies the device that alerts emergency contacts when you’re in trouble: upon pressing down hard on it during an emergency, the device will notify your contacts with your location and provide real-time audio of the situation. One last note: Inside the storage box is a small charging station which is said to only be needed every seven days.

Summary: Make sure to pre-order now for shipments that will be sent this summer; Cuff’s low-price ensures heavy demand.

Misfit Shine, $99.99
The Misfit Shine was created in April 2013 as “an elegant activity and sleep tracker that inspires you to live a more active life.”

Style Quota: The minimalist design of this device is great for integrating into a professional lifestyle. The device itself is a small circle of anodized, aircraft-grade aluminum. The face is accented with twelve LED lights that shine each hour, allowing it to function as a watch.

The device comes in ten different colors, with a variety of attachments like watch bands and  necklaces (even clothing). Misfit has also recently partnered with Swarovski to create an elegant Shine crystal instead of the original aluminum tracker, providing all of the same benefits and a little more bling!

Tech Talk: Like the other wearables, Shine links to your smartphone through an app, tracking your activity, calories burned, distance traveled, and monitoring sleep. The app takes your daily activity and regenerates it into easy charts for quick reference. The device functions with a battery, so there’s no need to charge it.

Summary: Chic and versatile, the Misfit Shine is easily adapted into the daily life of a working fashionista.

Ringly, Pre-order starting at $195
With a strong focus on women’s jewelry and accessories, these rings  are the company’s first product and a great blend of fashion and technology.

Style Quota: Each style is designed with specialty gemstones set in 18-carat gold or brass. The ring itself is sophisticated, innovative, and unobtrusive. Additional functions, styles, and updates will be available
in the coming months.

Tech Talk: Ringly connects with your phone to deliver discreet notifications that can be customized in their app.  Notifications are sent through four vibration patterns and small lights on the side of the ring;  you can tailor the vibration and color patterns to match each individual alert notification.

Ringly currently syncs with iOS and Android devices with alerts to incoming calls, messages, emails, your calendar, and social media. Each ring comes with its own box that also operates as a charging station, with a stand-alone battery that is charged through a USB outlet. The ring’s battery will last 24-48 hours,  depending on usage, and – great feature — battery life can be tracked in the Ringly app.

Summary: If rings are your thing, this is a great start for your collection of wearable tech!

Opening Ceremony MICA, $495
Opening Ceremony recently collaborated with Intel to create MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory), a fashion-forward bangle.

Style Quota: The bangle has a discreet 1.6-inch OLED screen protected by sapphire glass that easily sits on the inside of your wrist.  Made from snakeskin, 18k gold, pearls, and premium gem stones.

Tech Talk: This wearable runs independently from your phone (so there’s no need to panic if you forget your phone at home).  Its battery life can last up to 48 hours. The screen can display messages from anybody to whom you provide the number, plus Gmail notifications, social media alerts, and calendar reminders.

Summary: This is definitely an elaborate integration of fashion and technology with stylish women in mind – their website has a distinctly “haute” feel to it. Caveat: Because it doesn’t run off your phone, the bracelet needs its own SIM card and contract; however, a two-year AT&T plan is included in the price.

JUNE by Netatmo, $129
With summer around the corner, this is a great wearable investment! JUNE’s strong focus as a smart bracelet is to help wearers spend their time outdoors safely, and give them peace of mind while in the sun.

Style Quota: There are two bands to choose from: leather or silicone.  In the center of the band is a gemstone-like jewel (JUNE) in one of three tones: platinum, gold, or gunmetal. JUNE is able to slide on and off the band, and can easily be worn as a headband or brooch, versatile enough to change up your style.

Tech Talk: The sensor jewel measures sun exposure and UV rays, then syncs to an (iOS) app and alerts you with advice on protection in the sun: it will recommend the appropriate SPF cream for your skin, as well as when to move into the shade, or put on a hat or sunglasses.

When setting up the app, you will be asked a series of questions about your skin type, hair color, eye color, and how easily you burn, so it can customize the program. The app also has a built-in forecaster, calculating the UV index for the day and telling you what you need to pack — i.e. sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, etc.  It also provides diagrams of the current UV scale, your daily sun dose, and when the sun rises and sets.

Netatmo estimates JUNE’s battery life holding approximately a month, and it comes with a charger that plugs into a USB port.

Summary:  This smart wearable will help to shield from those killer sunburns year-round, keeping your skin young and vibrant by preventing premature aging.

Technology is advancing every day, making it easier for consumers to keep in touch  — in stylish, chic and discreet ways — with the information that matters most to them. These are just a few of the versatile wearable products on the market created with women and health in mind.