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RAPAPORT…
As consumer demand grows for mobile applications, more and
more jewelry and diamond companies are creating unique and useful applications
to better serve the industry. This guide represents a cross section of those
apps, but is not a complete listing of industry-related apps. The listings show
the wide variety of jewelry and diamonds apps available and the different
features and functions that the apps provide. The apps selected are searchable
on Apple’s App Store and Android’s Google Play Market and are from jewelry and
diamond companies that have spent considerable efforts promoting and marketing
them to the industry.
ANCHORCERT
App Name: Gemstone Weight Estimator
Released: October 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.3 or Later, Android 1.6 or Later
Price: $24.48
Function: Measurement
Features: This diamond-and-gemstone certification company’s
app functions as a scale, allowing users to calculate a diamond or gemstone’s
estimated carat weight by entering its length, width and depth. All weight
results can be forwarded, via text or email, to another party. Beyond that, the
app works as an education tool, featuring a database of diamonds and gemstones,
information on specific cuts and shapes and explanations of terms like specific
gravity, Mohs hardness and refraction index.
BLUE NILE
App Name: Blue Nile iPhone App
Released: September 2010
Updated: November 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.0 or Later
Price: Free
Function: Retail
Features: This app acts as a retail space where users can
shop in real-time Blue Nile’s selection of diamonds, rings, bracelets,
necklaces, pendants and earrings. The app’s “Diamond Search” also allows
customers to compare inventory in real time and provides them with cut, color,
clarity, carat weight and price information, as well as diamond grading reports
from Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or American Gem Society (AGS). An
education feature further explains important characteristics to look for when
selecting a diamond and gives in-depth information about stones.
The app’s most notable characteristic is its trademarked
“Build Your Own Ring” feature, where users can customize their own rings from
hundreds of settings. These built rings can be purchased or shared with friends
and family via email or Facebook. The app also has a “Dream Box” feature that
stores thousands of Blue Nile ring creations and brings up a random, recently
designed ring when a user shakes his mobile device.
DE BEERS
App Name: De Beers Bridal
Released: April 2012
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.0 or Later
Price: Free
Functions: Selection and Marketing
Features: De Beers Bridal app, which is available in five
languages, aims to help consumers discover engagement jewelry, wedding bands
and complementary wedding day jewelry. The app features videos that give
consumers expert advice on how to choose the best ring, information on the
design and craftsmanship of De Beers jewelry and the ability to locate the
nearest De Beers Diamond Jewelers store and to arrange for an appointment.
DGSE
App Name: Gold Exchange
Released: June 2010
Updated: June 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 3.2 or Later
Price: Free
Function: Price Quotes
Features: DGSE’s “Gold Exchange” app provides users instant
access to live and historical spot prices for gold, silver, platinum and
palladium, charting features and a user-customized price alert system. The app
also provides its users with direct access to DGSE traders.
DIAMONDGEEZER
App Name: DiamondGeezer “Engage Yourself” App
Released: September 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.0 or Later
Price: Free
Function: Retail
Features: The app from U.K. retailer DiamondGeezer allows
consumers to shop for diamonds and diamond rings in real time. The app includes
a “Know Your Diamond” feature that guides consumers through the 4Cs, the
diamond certification process and addresses conflict diamonds and the Kimberley
Process (KP). By using the smartphone or tablet camera function and taking a
picture of their hands, users can also virtually try on each ring and scale it
to their desired size.
FABERGE
App Name: Mir Fabergé
Released: June 2011
Updated: July 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 3.2 or Later, iPad only
Price: Free
Function: Marketing
Features: Fabergé’s app aims to educate users on the brand’s
legacy and its place in world history. Inspired by the early-twentieth-century
Russian art movement Mir Iskusstva, the app takes the form of an art journal
that features a collection of six stories on the Fabergé legacy. Bringing
together a host of directors, filmmakers, writers, illustrators and costume
designers, the app has text and music to complement each one of its artistic
representations. The app also offers a “MORE” feature that allows users to
learn more about each particular story and representation.
FOREVERMARK
App Name: Forevermark: The Promise
Released: November 2011
Updated: April 2012
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.0 or Later
Price: Free
Functions: Selection and Marketing
Features: With Forevermark’s app, users can view different
Forevermark diamonds in 3-D and find Forevermark licensed jewelers close to
their location. The app also has educational features, including interactive
tools that teach users about the 4Cs and give them expert tips on how to find
the right diamond. To showcase the Forevermark brand, the app has videos
detailing the journey of each Forevermark diamond, which also explain how the
brand goes beyond the 4Cs to select each stone.
GIA
App Name: Gems & Gemology
Released: April 2012
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.2 or Later, iPad Only
Price: Free
Function: Education
Features: This iPad-only app is the digital version of
Gemological Institute of America (GIA)’s Gems & Gemology quarterly journal.
Users can access all of the journal’s sections, including Feature Articles, Lab
Notes, Gem News International and Book Reviews and Gemological Abstracts, as
well as interviews with industry experts and in-depth slide shows.
GIA
App Name: GIA 4Cs Guide
Released: November 2011 (iPad), February 2012 (iPhone)
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.3 or Later
Price: Free
Function: Education
Features:This app features video and interactive tools that
help consumers not only learn about the 4Cs, but also understand how they are
employed in the industry. These tools, for example, educate users on how
diamond colors and clarities relate to value, the origins of the carat-weight
system and different types of diamond treatments and synthetic stones. Users
can view different parts of a diamond’s anatomy, as well as compare diamonds of
different cut, weight and color to one another.
Through the app’s “My Diamond Wish List,” users can keep
track of diamonds viewed by entering their information and the addresses of the
retailers that sell them. The app also links directly to Gemological Institute
of America’s (GIA) online database of diamond grading reports, allowing users
to download PDF versions of any report directly to their tablet or mobile
device.
ICE JEWELRY
App Name: Ice Jewelry
Released: January 2012
Updated: February 2012
Platforms: Apple iOS 3.0 or Later
Price: Free
Function: Retail
Features: This U.S.–based online jewelry retailer’s app
gives users the ability to browse through Ice Jewelry’s inventory and make
purchases in real time. Users can also “try on” a piece of jewelry by using
their smartphone or tablet camera function, taking a picture of their hand and
overlapping it with an image of a selected jewelry item. Pictures of this
“virtual jewelry,” as well as user-generated “wish lists,” can be shared via
email, Facebook or Twitter.
JAMES ALLEN
App Name: James Allen
Released: February 2011
Updated: June 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 3.2 or Later
Price: Free
Functions: Selection and Retail
Features: This online retailer’s app gives users the ability
to view over 20,000 loose diamonds and over 1,000 engagement rings, compare
their prices, view each diamond’s laboratory report and magnify each diamond
with the app’s own “virtual loupe” to see its characteristics. The app also
connects directly to the James Allen online store and allows users to search
through its inventory by size, color, cut and price. To allow for better
examination of the ring selection, the app has over 1,000 3-D video clips so
that users can see each ring from all angles.
JCK
App Name: JCK Mobile 2012
Released: May 2012
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.3 or Later; Android 2.1 or Later, Blackberry
Price: Free
Function: Show Information
Features: The
JCK Mobile 2012 app is designed exclusively for the JCK Las Vegas show. It offers users a list of exhibitors
and floor plans of the show and directions to any exhibitor in real time. The
app also has a list of educational events happening at the show, as well as a
selection of “featured exhibitors” and exhibitors who are offering new
products. To accommodate buyers and exhibitors from out of town, the app has a
list of entertainment and transportation information for Las Vegas. Users can
also schedule events and exhibitors they wish to visit during the show by using
the app’s “My Show” planner feature.
KETAN BROTHERS
App Name: Ketan Brothers
Released: December 2010 (iOS); August 2010 (Blackberry)
Updated: January 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 3.0 or Later and Blackberry
Price: Free
Functions: Selection, Retail, News
Features: The
app for this Indian manufacturer and supplier allows users to search the
company’s inventory by diamond cut, size and price, as well as order stones in
real time. Users can also add diamonds to their “watch list” to track price
changes over a period of time and keep updated on the company’s news and
upcoming events.
LAZARE KAPLAN INTERNATIONAL
App Name: The Lazare Diamond 4Cs
Released: April 2011
Updated: December 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.0 or Later
Price: Free
Function: Education
Features: The Lazare Kaplan app has an interactive guide to
the 4Cs of diamonds, with videos and side-by-side comparison charts. Users can
also find the closest retailer to them that sells Lazare Kaplan products
through the app’s “Store Locator” function, and connect directly to Lazare
Kaplan’s Facebook and Twitter profiles.
STULLER
App Name: Live Diamond Try On
Released: June 2009
Updated: September 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 3.0 or Later
Price: Free
Function: Selection
Features: The app for this manufacturer features a “try-on”
tool that lets users choose a diamond and mounting from Red Box Diamonds, take
a picture of their hands and place the ring on the picture, adjusting its size
to fit perfectly. Each “try-on” picture can be saved to the mobile device or
tablet, emailed to another party or shared on Facebook and Twitter. The app
also features a “Locate a Jeweler” function that helps users find the closest
jeweler that sells Stuller products.
TIFFANY & CO.
App Name: Tiffany & Co. Engagement Ring Finder
Released: June 2010
Updated: October 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.0 or Later
Price: Free
Function: Selection
Features: While this app does not allow users to buy bridal
jewelry directly, it does give them a chance to select the “perfect” bridal
ring and puts them in touch with Tiffany representatives. The app allows users
to browse Tiffany’s collection of bridal jewelry according to shape,
setting, metal or design. The rings are shown true to size and each style can
be viewed with diamonds of six different carat sizes. Users can zoom in on a
ring’s details, pair the rings with wedding bands and save or share their favorites
via email, Facebook and Twitter.
The app also features an accurate “Ring Sizer” that lets
users determine their ring size by taking a picture of their hand and
fitting a virtual ring on it. The app is available in eight languages and
provides users with prices in local currency.
VERRAGIO
App Name: Verragio
Released: December 2009
Updated: March 2011
Platforms: Apple iOS 4.3 or Later
Price: Free
Function: Selection
Features: The app for the designer/wholesaler allows users
to search through Verragio’s collections, and is regularly updated to feature
its latest jewelry lines. Users cannot purchase Verragio jewelry directly
through the app, but they can use its GPS locator feature to find authorized
Verragio retailers close to their location or within a selected zip code. The
app also allows users to share their favorite Verragio jewelry piece with their
friends and family through email or Facebook and Twitter posts.
