Smartphones Inspire Hi-Tech Jewellery

While the world is busy pitting the Apple Watch, Samsung Smart Gear, Moto 360 and the likes against each other, a host of design houses have found an alternate way to make headlines - by fashioning wearable technology with precious stones and metals instead.

So if hi-tech smartwatches are too straight-forward for you, indulge in these jewels that score on style and functionality...

What started off at FashionTEQ as an effort to better table manners and social etiquette has now given birth to some new age smart jewellery, where the basic premise is no different than that of smartwatches.

Zazzi jewellery syncs to your phone and keeps you notified on all communication so that you can stay connected without pulling out the handset and being all shifty-eyed mid-conversation.

There¡¯s a mini-screen to relay information, which is inset between textured and detailed gold or silver, to make a pretty bracelet, ring or even a pendant.

While the metals are synonymous with jewellery, Zazzi allows you to choose from a series of beautiful imagery that individually represent the chosen incoming notification (call, text, social network).

Probably the most impressive and expensive ¡®looking¡¯ of the lot, FitBit¡¯s popular Flex Tracker, which is traditionally set in a silicone strap, has been now been fused with some solid brass by Tory Burch.

In appearance, it looks like an open framework intricate gold bracelet; a pendant variant is also available.

The device tracks your steps, distance walked, calories burnt and also acts as a goal tracker for your fitness regime.

Strap on Intel¡¯s MICA ¡ª My Intelligent Communication Accessory ¡ª a smart bracelet made by the leading chip maker in a bid to join the wearable technology wagon.

Priced under $1,000 each, the embellished bauble has a 1.6 inch curved sapphire touchscreen display which is flanked with semi-precious stones.

It syncs with your smartphone or tablet, and you can view your messages, updates, notifications, reminders, calendar and meeting alerts, all on the go.

What¡¯s more, it also includes a wireless data communication spec with 3G cellular radio activation and wireless charging facility, without having to be harmonised with your smartphone.

With two alternates available in snakeskin ¡ª Pearls and Lapis stone, or Tiger¡¯s Eye and Obsidian ¡ª this one¡¯s a chic investment for the party circuit.

A good-looking pair, Rebecca Minkoff¡¯s gorgeous bracelets with Case-Mate walked the ramp at New York Fashion Week earlier this month, and they¡¯re so well-designed, it¡¯s impossible to identify the wearable tech DNA.

While a gold chain-link model doubles up as a notification provider that is channeled through Bluetooth, there¡¯s a studded lighting cable bracelet that interestingly connects to a USB can be used to charge your phone on the go ¡ª beats those bulky portable ones doesn¡¯t it?

Well Samsung Gear has been around since last year, and their latest, the Gear S smartwatch, was given a very tasteful makeover by Swarovski for the luxury lovers in the world.

It¡¯s simply about attaching a stylish strap for some glitz and personalisation, while the base interface and functionality remains the same as a non-jewelled version.

Swarovski especially designed a new crystal fine mesh that fuses with the strap's metal to provide an interesting contrast to the otherwise straight-faced timepiece.