At CES 2025 on Tuesday, smart ring manufacturer Ultrahuman unveiled a trio of lustrous, high-tech accessories, expanding its wellness wearable lineup with a luxurious jewelry collection. Dubbed the Rare series, these rings provide a clever verbal tie to the company’s flagship product, the Ring Air.
The Indian startup is claiming the new “luxury” smart rings as a world-first in the category. While smart rings have always been considered jewelry, the materials enveloping the advanced tracking technology in the Rare Rings elevate them beyond the ordinary: two of the designs are adorned with 18K gold (sourced from refineries approved by the London Bullion Market Association and hallmarked by the Bureau of Indian Standards, according to Ultrahuman), whereas the third is made of pt950 (95%) platinum.
Founder and CEO Mohit Kumar told TechCrunch that this luxury range signifies “a whole new category” for the smart ring producer. Unlike limited-edition high-end collaborations with designers, this initiative aims to elevate smart rings to aspirational new levels—complete with a price tag to match: Rare Rings will retail for between £1,500 and £1,800 (excluding local taxes).
This equates to approximately $1,900 to $2,250 based on current exchange rates, significantly higher than the $349 entry price for Ultrahuman’s Ring Air. This justifies the “luxury” classification.
Whether consumers will be inclined to invest in such a petite gadget remains uncertain; however, the Apple Watch has already paved the way for high-end wearables. Moreover, Ultrahuman’s smart rings don’t necessitate a subscription for full access to primary tracking features, unlike Oura’s offerings—making it a single splurge.
Smart Jewelry
“We envision our ideal customers as those who prioritize health and well-being, while also seeking products that resonate with their personal values and showcase sophisticated design,” Kumar expressed in his conversation with TechCrunch. “Rare is tailored for individuals who value exclusivity and intentionality in their choices. This is just the beginning, with much more innovation to come. Envision top jewelry designers channeling their artistry uniquely while integrating cutting-edge technology.”
The company drew inspiration to enhance the product’s desirability through customer feedback, indicating that users wanted to make the device an even more cherished personal possession.
“We’ve seen instances of people using Ring Air for engagement proposals and gifting to loved ones during various social events. If you explore Ultrahuman’s Instagram, you will find numerous stories of people accessorizing their rings with outfits or other cherished items,” he noted. “Industry-wise, we observe immense potential in the upscale smart ring segment, fueled by an integration of rising health consciousness and luxury appeal.”
Sand and Silicon
The inaugural trio of Rare rings is characterized as the “Desert Collection,” with each piece drawing inspiration from natural elements reflected in their names: “Dune” is a gold-hued band; “Desert Rose” (shown above in close-up) is a rose gold variant; and “Desert Snow” is the platinum ring with a shimmering silver finish.
In addition to the high-end metals, a prominent design feature includes the brushed finish of the bands, enhanced with “finely crafted grooves.” Ultrahuman’s promotion suggests that the outcome is both “smooth yet textured” upon touch, boasting light-reflecting “crystalline” properties as the wearer moves. (However, there are no actual gemstones present in this collection—perhaps a feature for future offerings?)
Beneath the lavish exterior, the Rare rings are equipped with the same advanced tracking technology as Ultrahuman’s Ring Air—featuring photoplethysmography and six-axis motion sensors—providing an array of metrics related to the user’s sleep, movement, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), stress levels, skin temperature, and more. (For an in-depth look at Ultrahuman’s gadgets, check out our 2023 Ring Air review.)
An additional benefit for Ring Rare users includes access to an “exclusive suite of advantages,” such as lifetime membership to “UltrahumanX,” the company’s coverage and benefits program. Owners of the Rare rings will also receive complimentary access to all PowerPlugs—software enhancements that further personalize the user experience—encompassing existing paid features (like AFib detection) as well as future introductions.
Availability
The Ring Rare collection is set to launch in Europe during Q1 2025, beginning in the U.K. and France, and will be made available at select premium retail locations. The first retailers to feature the collection include high-end luxury department stores: Selfridges in London, where Ultrahuman’s Ring Air is already offered, and Printemps in Paris.
Kumar also mentioned plans for future expansions into additional markets after the initial launch, stating: “We will be adding more locations such as New York, Milan, and India as well.”
Explore more from CES 2025, including…
- Our live updates from CES
- Nvidia’s unveiling of their ‘personal AI supercomputer’
- Toyota and Nvidia’s new partnership
- Kirin’s innovative electric salt spoon
- New e-bikes from Segway
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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