Omate was an early entrant into the smartwatch business, with a well-constructed analog device that included a microSIM and did not require a tethered phone. It still sells those watches, but has now entered the designer jewelry business with the French couture house Ungaro.
The Ungaro x Omate is a notification ring that vibrates when you get a message from one person that you select on a smartphone app. That’s it; pretty simple. What different isn’t the technology so much as the jewelry. Ungaro is a legit couture brand, and the ring is priced accordingly. It will be available in November in silver or gold, and with stones made out of blue topaz, opalite, onyx, sapphire, or ruby. Prices range from $500 to $2000.
Another interesting point: the ring will be built and distributed by the Richline Group, a Berkshire Hathaway company that’s a major distributor in the jewelry business, and one that’s increasingly building a presence with tech-enhanced products.