5 Things Every Jeweler Must Know Before Investing in Augmented Reality

Role of AR In jewelry industry

The jewelry industry is experiencing a profound transformation through the integration of Augmented Reality (AR), revolutionizing the way consumers engage with and purchase jewelry. Here's an exploration of the multifaceted role AR plays in this glittering domain:

1. Virtual Try-On Experiences: 

• AR enables virtual try-on experiences, allowing customers to see how jewelry pieces look on themselves without physically trying them.
• Platforms like Tanishq's mirrAR and Tiffany & Co.'s Virtual Try-On bring the showroom to the consumer, enhancing the decision-making process.

2. Personalized Shopping Journeys:

• AR technologies personalize the shopping journey, offering customers tailored recommendations based on their preferences and style.
• Virtual catalogs and interactive displays engage customers, providing an immersive and personalized exploration of jewelry collections.

3. Bridging Online and Offline Worlds:

• AR acts as a bridge between online and offline experiences, addressing the challenge of purchasing high-value items online.
• Consumers can virtually place jewelry on themselves in real-time, combining the convenience of online shopping with the tangible experience of trying on pieces.

4. Customization and Design Exploration:

• AR empowers customers to participate in the design process through customization tools.
• Brands like De Beers utilize AR to allow customers to visualize and personalize their chosen designs, creating a sense of ownership and uniqueness.

5. Enhanced Education and Transparency:

• AR facilitates education about gemstones, metals, and craftsmanship, enhancing the transparency of the jewelry-making process.
• Customers can learn about the origin and characteristics of diamonds, promoting informed and confident purchasing decisions.

6. Virtual Showrooms and Events:

• AR extends the reach of jewelry brands by creating virtual showrooms and events.
• Events like virtual launches and showcases, as seen in the case of Pandora's AR Pop-up, allow brands to connect with a global audience.

7. Augmented In-Store Experiences:

• In physical stores, AR enhances the in-store experience by providing additional information about products when viewed through AR-enabled devices.

         • Retailers like Cartier use AR to blend the in-store and digital experience seamlessly.

What should one know before investing in Augmented Reality?

There are tons of options available in the market today, including multiple AR products. Augmented reality is all about a seamless experience. Unless the AR technology you pick gives your customers a great experience, integrating it might not be of any or much help. If you are a manufacturer or a retailer looking to invest in one, let us help you understand more about what makes an AR technology the perfect fit for your business.

Top Tip? Do NOT miss out on the 2nd point !

1. Easy to use technology is the winner

Consumers today crave convenience & effortless purchases. Gone are the days when people would have to click pictures, drag & drop Jewelry, see how designs look on them or even follow instructions and adjust their faces.

Pick a technology that makes the process of trying on your pieces effortless & easy to use. It’ll make your designs automatically more attractive. Happy shopping!

2. AR is all about the experience

If the Jewelry is flying while you are trying or it disappears when you move your head from one side to the other, say NO. Request for demos, try it on yourself, before you invest.

The idea is to give your customers a seamless virtual try on experience. If it isn’t flawless, the investment might be a sheer waste of time, energy & resources for both, you and the customer.

3. An omni-channel product will boost your business

It is easier to interact with & engage customers when they are in your store. But do you ever wonder how you can stay connected with your customers outside the store?

Choose a product that can give your customers a contactless experience, both inside your store & also from the comfort of their homes via your website or an app. Also, make sure that the product is able to sync your data for efficient utilisation in the online and offline world.

4. Analytics & customer insights

While you’re showing your customers your designs the traditional way in-store, there is absolutely no way you can possibly track their preferences.

With the integration of an AR technology, you get access to so many interesting customer insights, for example: for how long did a customer try on a product, or how many times did a customer view a design, or if they smiled while trying your Jewelry , or what age group prefers which designs over the others (and much more!)

5. Quality: Check. and then Double Check.

Our last tip: Pick the product of highest quality and one that feels the most intuitive because your brand deserves the best! The technology you integrate represents your designs to your customers and you don’t want to mess with that!

The end goal is to further enhance the customer experience, not make it more confusing. Trust players who’ve been in the industry: trust their experience & their expertise.

More often that not, you might be tempted to pick the technology that’s cheaper, but remember affordability should not come at the cost of your customer’s experience.

We hope this was helpful. As a responsible stakeholder of the industry, we thought it’d be great to share these essentials with you. If this resonated, please share this with your fellow Jewelry entrepreneurs to further spread the word!

If you’re vocal for local & are looking for a technology partner, built in India, that serves your brand just right, we’re only a call/email away. Write to mirrar@styledotme.com & our team will get back to you!

Marketing strategy with augmented reality jewelry

In today's fierce jewelry marketplace, augmented reality  is a game-changer: it provides brands with novel ways to show their target audience what they are missing out on.

With Virtual Try-On Experience, AR overcomes the traditional browsing experience for jewelry. With products coming to life right in front of their eyes, customers can have an interactive and stimulating shopping experience. Appreciation of every detail The focus should be on intuitive AR applications that unveil a complete view to the users so they can savor all of this.

Jewelry isn't just a matter of beauty. It contains tales and emotions. These stories can be brought to life through AR. Using animated narratives to tell historical product stories, describe their crafting process or even the meaning behind a certain design enhances emotional involvement for brands and ups your brand experience.

The immersive nature of AR makes gamified experiences particularly brilliant. Jewelry collections can be used to create interactive challenges or treasure hunts for brands. They can add zest to buying and give the brand a lively relationship with its consumers.

In addition, AR is also capable of providing customized recommendations. Combined with advanced AI algorithms, AR platforms create jewelry selections that reflect each person's personal tastes and preferences. Each purchase thus becomes a one-off masterpiece made specifically for the customer.

The AR journey does not have to stop at the point of sale. Post-purchase care, AR-guided tutorials Brands can also digitize content on gemstone education and offer coherent information flows for consumers. They may even add in added value such as providing them with avenues to customize or repair their stones by themselves virtually.

Recommendations from a Virtual Assist 

Data-Driven Insights: Interactivity gives AR a wealth of consumer data for brands. Through measuring user interactions in AR environments, brands can learn a great deal about consumers 'preferences. It is a data-driven strategy, so that future AR activities can be fine tuned in terms of personalization and relevance.

Amplifying Social Presence: When used properly in social media space, AR content can greatly enlarge a brand's digital footprint. Working with influencers in a shared effort will further enhance their brand exposure and win the hearts of consumers through AR-enabled promotions.

Strategic Tech Collaborations: To constantly innovate in the AR realm, brands need to establish connections with world-ranking experts and technology variants. These kinds of alliances keep brands right on the cutting edge, offering up continually exciting and immersive AR experiences.

Integration of product catalogs with AR

Advanced 3D Modeling:

A foundational step is the meticulous creation of high-fidelity 3D models of the entire jewelry range. These models serve as the cornerstone for the AR experience, necessitating meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship.\

Enhanced Image Recognition:

‍ Seamless integration is paramount. Implementing advanced image recognition capabilities ensures that physical jewelry pieces seamlessly integrate with the AR ecosystem, facilitating real-time overlays and enriching user interactions.

Dynamic API Integration:

To ensure the AR experience remains current and relevant, brands must prioritize dynamic API integrations. This facilitates instantaneous updates, allowing any modifications or additions to the product lineup to be promptly reflected within the AR framework.