Stuller Diamonds? There's An App For That

Stuller has partnered with Gemvision Corp. on an iPhone application that allows users to pick out a diamond engagement ring, try it out for size using an image of their own hand, share the image with friends and find a jeweler to buy the ring from.

IPhone users can choose from among thousands of downloadable applications that allow them to use their phones while on the go to do everything from play video games to manage their money to get workout tips.

Soon to be added to the list is the diamond ring application unveiled by Stuller during the Las Vegas jewelry shows, which is called "Live Diamond Try-On (brought to you by Red Box Diamonds)." The application will be offered for free to iPhone users beginning in late summer via the iPhone store, said Kerry Hand, Stuller's executive director of marketing services and public relations.

Hand and Ryan Koning, director of advertising, communications and events for Gemvision, demonstrated how the program will work.

The first step is to use the iPhone's touch screen to go to the application, which then prompts a user to choose a diamond by carat size and shape, and then a mounting by precious-metal color, either white or yellow. There are a limited number of ring styles currently available through the application, but these include classic styles and additional choices that feature side stones.

After the user has made a diamond and precious-metal color selection, it's time for the try on. The user then takes a picture of her hand using the iPhone camera. Then, using the iPhone's touch screen, the user can position the ring onto the picture of the hand, adjusting for a perfect fit. The iPhone can also be held directly on the hand with the image tilted to enjoy the "sparkle" of the diamond image.

The image of the person's hand, with the chosen ring, can now be e-mailed to friends and family, posted on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

At this point, the iPhone user can also track down where to find the ring through the "find a jeweler" function of the Live Diamond Try-On application, which uses the phone's GPS function to pull up Google maps and place virtual pins on the nearest Red Box Diamond Jewelers, ranking each one selected based on proximity, Hand says.

"This is the beauty of the application. It drives consumers to dream big and them pushes them to spend big with Red Box Diamond retailers," Hand says.

The new application is one of a number of new programs Stuller is offering that are designed to let jewelers take advantage of digital technologies to give consumers expanded options. During the JCK Las Vegas show, Stuller also unveiled the Virtual Diamond Selector program, which allows retail jewelers to go online with customers to choose from 10,000 diamonds by size, shape or color, and the Customized Earring Program, which provides retail jewelers with the chance to customize a pair of diamond earrings exactly the way the customer wants them.

Another new option, Stuller's 3D Ring Engraver, allows retail jewelers to personalize a wedding band while sitting in the store with their customer, who can choose a unique message and a particular font, and then get a dynamic 3D preview of what the ring will look like once it is inscribed.

Jewelers who are interested in being part of the iPhone application must be Red Box Diamond jewelers. For details, contact Stuller via e-mail at info@stuller.com or by calling (800) 877-7777.