Never have separation anxiety issues with your phone again. For the fashion-first female, Ringly is miniature technology inside of a cocktail ring that is launching for preorders. Christina Mercando, CEO of the New York City startup, discussed her need to solve a day-to-day issue of “missing important phone calls and messages from friends and family” due to her smart device being in her purse. For someone who doesn’t indulge in the big, blingy, cocktail ring, this product may not fit your style. For those who enjoy some shiny, colorful hand accessories, Ringly is a discreet alternative to checking your smartphone every few moments.


The company’s goal is to continue to make this technology smaller and smaller; “small enough so we could put it anywhere, or we could really focus on the form of the jewelry, rather than fitting it around the technology”. There is a constant battle we have with our technology, sometimes making it hard to tell if we are controlled by it, or if it’s the reverse. With Ringly, you may stow your smartphone away, then choose which notifications you desire, and how you want to be alerted. With Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), it’s possible to personalize and configure the ring, along with the accompanying app, to let you know what is happening on your phone. Ringly can blink and vibrate, all thanks to a light, motor, battery, and accelerometer discreetly tucked underneath the stone. The rest of the ring consists of semi-precious stones and gold-plated metal.



Ringly has the idea perfectly, now all the company needs to do is continue to pursue potential future applications, such gesture control, unlocking doors; even fitting the technology inside other things, such as a watch or bracelet. I think it is fair to say this gadget doesn’t have anything up against rival smart wearables; it’s simplistic in what it can do. It is also limited to the female fashion market as of now. For me, a buzzing, blinking ring on my finger would be equally, if not more distracting that my smartphone on the table. I do believe Ringly is perfect for is someone who is comfortable with “disconnecting” enough to keep their phone in their purse or pocket, but “connected” enough that they cant live without knowing if they’re missing something. Ringly is ready for pre-order for $145-$180 on it’s website.