With Technological
innovation and Artificial
Intelligence being
witnessed in the Industry, what do you
think will be the future in terms of
latest technologies introduced in the
gem and jewellery sector?
The future for the gems and jewellery
sector is pretty bright. Primarily, the
ability to customise and personalise
products with 3D design tools is going to
be disruptive. 3D Printing will also
allow direct metal printing, eliminating
the need for moulds and other
machinery. With tech like Blockchain,
transparency and trust will no longer be
an issue. Gemstones and precious
metals will be traceable back to their
sources, and thereby the industry (and
consumers) will only push for ethical
practices.
We know VR / AR is being widely
adopted by most industries, and in
jewellery too, it will disrupt the retail
experience and change the way
consumers interact with precious gems
and jewelry. Imagine a luxury jewellery
showroom that can be accessed in the
comfort of one's home - with realistic
visualisations and try ons of products possible.
3D printing has revolutionised the
jewellery sector with cutting edge
technology and knowhow. What is
your opinion on the future of 3D
printing evolution and its impact on
the industry? Please add on the
cutting edge technology that is
used in 3D printer marketed by
Imaginarium.
3D printing has already streamlined
the casting process. Initially, artisans
would have to make multiple wax
moulds and metal imprints of their
designs to manufacture them, but now
they can directly print the wax pieces.
Furthermore, there are machines that
can directly print precious metals like
gold, silver, and platinum, making
production a much faster process.
As for printers marketed by
Imaginarium, we have partnered with
Cooksongold to introduce a DMLS
(Direct Metal Laser Sintering) printer
that produces top quality, ready to finish
precious metal parts from computer
based designs in a matter of hours. It
completely eliminates the need to invest
in tooling processes like moulds and
casts, the printer is perfect for printing
complex, organic shapes and
lightweight designs directly in precious
metals. It has been designed specially
for the jewellery industry, as there is no
direct contact with the precious metal
powder to avoid material loss and easy
metal changeover.
Do you personally think with the
advent state of the art of 3D printers
the very essence of jewellery
designing and manufacturing will
transform into un conventional
jewellery designs? Will this impact in
increasing sales. If yes, how?
Yes, the situation is already changing.
Customers can now be supplied with
bespoke designs at no extra cost to the
manufacturer allowing for large scale
customization. Involving customers in
the process will no longer be a luxury but the norm.
What are the important factors that
you feel has taken Imaginarium to a
leadership status and what are your
future plans in India and abroad?
The main factor is the trust that we have
fostered in Imaginarium, we always
stick to our principles when it comes to
design and manufacturing. We have
matched cutting edge technology with
the customer's age old pain points. For
example, Rapidshape is a german DLP
printer used by jewellery manufacturers
around the world. We act as a service
bureau and print designs for customers
on the Rapidshape printer because we
know that making an investment in such
technology is a big decision. When
customers are ready to take the next step
to grow their business further, we
recommend the appropriate Rapidshape
printer for their needs, which allows to
act as not only a service bureau but a
retailer too.
For the future, we aim to make
manufacturing accessible to all so that
any individual can make jewellery. If
your grandmother has a sketchbook full
of jewellery designs, we can bring those
ideas to life. Another thing we would
like to do is further innovate in tools for
design, making it accessible and
intuitive enough for anyone to design.
In a slow moving market what
according to you will sell in terms of
jewellery? Tell us from the
manufacturer perspective.
One thing we have noticed is that people
will always invest in jewellery, no
matter the state of the market. Moreover,
jewellery that is intrinsically linked to a
story that appeals to a consumer will be
evergreen. When a consumer finds
meaning and emotion captured in
products, it elevates the product beyond
just its material value or its design and
forms an emotional bond with the
wearer. Manufacturers must keep that
in mind when designing new products in
slower times.