Associate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
Galatea extends personal touch to gems, diamonds
Following the launch of its Momento pearl jewelry, which is embedded with a chip that allows users to record messages, Galatea has added the technology to a new collection of diamond and gemstone jewelry.

At the recent JCK Las Vegas show, Galatea unveiled two new jewelry lines that use near field communication technology, Momento Gem and Momento Diamond.
Momento jewelry is embedded with a chip that allows users to create a tailored voice message that’s played when the jewelry is tapped against a compatible mobile device. It first launched in a line of pearl jewelry in December.
In the Momento Diamond rings, the NFC chip is placed between two thin slices of mother-of- pearl that is topped with a thin layer of sapphire. The designs are patent-pending, the company said.
The rings, which the company are calling the world’s first interactive engagement rings, will be sold as semi-mounts only, no center stones.
The brand launched two models to start at the trade show: a 14-karat white gold design with 0.20 total carats of diamonds that wholesales for $850 and a 14-karat white gold design with 0.25 carats of diamonds, which wholesales for $975.
Platinum and 18-karat gold also are available as special order.
The Momento Diamond collection will include eight models in total ready for fall delivery; pricing for the remainder will be announced in the future.
WATCH: Galatea’s video about how the Momento Diamond rings work
Galatea also launched its Momento Gem collection at the show, which features a line of 20 gem-set pendants and rings, including garnet, citrine, blue topaz and amethyst cut in different styles and set in 14-karat white or yellow gold.
Wholesale prices for that collection range from $270 to $1,245.
Chi Huynh, Galatea’s owner, designer, and creative director, said that with the success of the Momento line, the brand will continue to build the collection into the future.
“To create beautiful jewelry that uses technology to become even more meaningful is the ultimate goal of our company,” he said.
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