Trove’s Fashionable 3D-printed Jewelry Only a Click Away
Forget diamonds; you can now 3D-print your own customized rings and bracelets. Startup Trove allows you to design pieces of jewelry, try on plastic versions and then order the item to be printed in precious metals of your choosing.
Brian Park, formally a product manager at Zynga, founded the company after becoming fascinated with 3D printing. He wanted to find an easy way for consumers to customize their own products.
The site hosts five base models per category (five bracelets and five rings). Users can select customizable options from a slider tool. For example, you can bend or stretch aspects of the piece to make your own version.
“I hope that we can make an experience that is so easy to use that anybody, regardless of experience, can design and 3D-print anything they want in the material they want it in,” Park tells Mashable.
Pieces you create are saved in your “trove,” where you can make collections similar to Pinterest boards. You can also view other people’s designs and save, update or purchase those, too.
If you are unsure of your design or would prefer to test before purchasing, Trove will send you a plastic copy. From there, you can edit your design and purchase it in materials ranging from bronze to 18K gold. If you decide you no longer want to purchase, you will be charged a small fee for the trial.
Image: Jhila Farzaneh/Mashable
Image: Jhila Farzaneh/Mashable
The Trove team plans to move into other pieces of jewelry (next is necklaces) as well as home goods, clothing and accessories.
“3D printing will eventually enable everyone to have customized products, because it makes single-batch manufacturing affordable to the average person,” Park explains.
Prices are based on design and can range from $60 for a bronze ring to over $3,000 for an 18K gold bracelet.