Worn Well
BY GAVIN MANLEY
New smartwatches, health trackers, eyewear and even rings made a splash at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year. In fact, research firm IDC estimates that by 2025, 777 million wearables will be sold worldwide. Ac Magazine takes a look at some of the brands and products at the nexus of style, wellness and tech.
1. Oura Smart Ring
The Oura Ring was at the center of a playful “sleep competition” between Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow on social media last year. With its sleek titanium design, this understated wearable has won over celebrities and wellness fanatics alike since it first launched a few years ago.
Above all else, the Oura Ring is a sleep tracker. Sensors next to the skin measure heart rate, respiration, movement, body temperature and even the time spent in each sleep stage. These data points are then sent to an app on the user’s phone to help “make the most out of your days and nights” the website claims. Clearly targeted to women, an additional feature of the Oura Ring allows female users to predict more accurately — by monitoring body temperature — when their cycle will begin.
2. Nowatch
Launching this Spring, the NOWATCH is a screenless wearable for the wrist that’s designed to predict stress by monitoring cortisol levels. The idea is that wearers can use this information for a deeper understanding of their “cognitive zone” – helping to anticipate when they are becoming overstimulated or indeed, under stimulated.
“Our goal is simple: to give people the time to act before stress becomes too crippling to handle” according to NOWATCH CEO, Hylke Muntinga. With its sophisticated feminine design, the NOWATCH will likely appeal to a professional, style-conscious woman. And before you ask — no, it doesn’t tell the time.
3. Michael Kors, Gen 6 Bradshaw Smartwatch
Now for a watch that does tell the time — along with a host of other features designed to optimize health and well-being. The Gen 6 Bradshaw by Michael Kors is as smart as it is stylish. Crafted with gold-tone stainless steel and pavé center links, this smartwatch comes with a heart rate monitor, GPS distance tracker and an SP02 sensor to record breathing and sleep cycles. In addition, its compatibility with iPhones and Android devices allow users to make and receive calls and use this smartwatch for cardless payments.
4. Ivy Wellness Tracker
The Ivy is “a one-of-a-kind health and wellness tracker created for women by women,” according to the brand website. In addition to monitoring pulse, heart rate, physical and mental activity, the Ivy also claims to shine a light on “the fifth vital sign.” Essentially, this means that this elegant piece of jewelry allows users to tap into “the body’s natural wisdom” with data that’s correlated to the four phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
5. Hapbee Wearable
Although not strictly a fashion accessory, the Hapbee is, however, at the cutting edge of wellness and tech. Decades of research have led to the launch of the latest generation of this wearable device — which is not dissimilar in appearance to a modern-day, Celtic torc. The Hapbee promises to help users change the way they feel through technology that simulates the effects of caffeine, melatonin, CBD and other mood-altering substances. Purported benefits include better sleep, deeper relaxation, sharper focus as well as enhanced creative energy.
6. AYO Light Based Wearable
Is it possible to harness the power of light to fine-tune your body’s natural rhythm? The people at AYO believe that by wearing their device for as little as 30 minutes a day users can boost energy, elevate mental focus, combat jet lag and even minimize the effects of SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Safe and natural with no UV or Infrared light, the AYO works by stimulating specialized cells in the user’s eyes — which supports the body’s circadian cycles.
7. Bose Audio Sunglasses
Without sound, they’re just sunglasses, according to the product page for Soprano — a leading style in the Bose Frames collection. Boasting “sound you’d never expect from sunglasses,” Bose brings together exceptional sound quality in fashionably stylish shades. While not necessarily a wellness product — unless you’re listening to a meditation track or sound bath — the latest generation of Bose Frames have enhanced audio and a longer battery life than earlier versions.
Originally published in the Spring 2022 issue of Ac Magazine (The Accessories Council).
