It could spice up the closing moments of a successful date

Sep 22, 2014 14:54 GMT  ·  By

Lockets with hidden pictures or other objects within have been a thing for decades, centuries even, but that doesn't mean they can't be reinvented. In fact, it would have been odd if the current decade passed without some new type of around-the-neck jewelry cropping up.

We will admit that 3D printing technology wasn't the first thing that would have come to mind, though, if we'd have been asked about what we see for the future of jewelry.

Nevertheless, a 3D printed locket is precisely what we are here to introduce you to, even though you won't find any on sale for a while.

Indeed, you might never find such a thing on sale (unless someone decides to give the idea a second go) if the crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter fails.

The 3D printed UpLocket

Created by a pair of entrepreneurs from Baltimore, by the names of Todd Blatt and Ben Howarth, the locket is not unusual just because it was made through additive manufacturing.

The other reason is the small NFC radio hidden beneath whatever photo or other object you decide to slip inside the locket, for safe keeping.

The near field communication device is meant to allow you to instantly share personal information, photos or whatever else with someone else.

Say you went on a successful date with someone. At the end of it, you could tap your locked against their phone and your contact info would immediately be shared.

Custom3DStuff.com actually designed the locket, in AutoCAD and MeshMixer. Laser sintering 3D printing technology is used to make them physical, but no other details on the procedures exist. At least we can say for sure that quality is a lot higher in laser sintering than in FDM.

If you make a pledge on the Kickstarter campaign, of at least $25 / €25, you can get your own locket as early as December 2014. You will get to select between “Swirl,” the “Nuclear Pendant,” and the “Opening Round,” plus the traditional “Simple Heart Pendant.”

In addition to contact information, the NFC chip can store photos or even a song, although you won't be able to listen to it or do anything else other than share it.

Well, maybe not actually store anything. In essence, the NFC chip is programmed to send a message to a nearby phone, a message that contains a self-opening link to a URL (web address). The URL can be set to a photo, YouTube video, photo album, even a website.

Availability

It is not assured, as is always the case with crowd-funded campaigns. The Todd Blatt and Ben Howarth hope to raise $5,000 / €5,000 to make the UpLocket a marketable, retail product, but if they don't manage it, then they'll have to go back to the drawing board.

3D Printed UpLocket (6 Images)

3D printed UpLockets
3D printed UpLocket Swirl Pendant3D printed UpLocket Nuclear Pendant
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