Pearl pendants, earrings and rings – these fashionable personal ornaments from Galatea (www.galateausa.com) would enhance the beauty of any woman. What makes them really special though is that this jewelry has a voice.



The NFC-empowered Momento Pearl™ from Galatea: Jewelry by Artist is the first cultured pearl to contain near field communication (NFC) technology. This allows the purchaser to create a tailored voice message that can be played when the pearl is tapped against a compatible mobile device. The Momento Pearl can also store a variety of digital content including images, text messages and videos.



 Galatea gives Momento jewelry its voice by implanting an NFC chip deep inside the pearl. The tiny computer runs without a battery by induction energy. When the Galatea app is downloaded, the user records a message or uploads an audio file. By tapping the pearl against an Android NFC-enabled mobile device, the audio is played and other digital material displayed. From words of love and encouragement to wedding vows or religious verses, the Momento Pearl can carry sentiments to be kept close to mind and heart. “This is where the future of jewelry begins,” said inventor and Galatea founder Chi Huynh. “A person can ‘live’ in this pearl forever, as it holds the voice and memories of a loved one.”



Though Momento Pearl is unique, Huynh says it’s just a natural extension of Galatea’s work with pearls and pearl culturing over the last 20 years. Known for its hand-carved cultured Tahitian and freshwater pearls, Galatea owns a number of patents for its unique pearl and gemstone jewelry.



The collection of Momento Pearl jewelry includes carved pearls set in 14k gold and sterling silver. A Kickstarter project is funding new designs. While a pendant or ring has just one NFC chip inside, a pair of earrings has two. Momento prices start at $125.