What if you could bring a jewelry showroom home? With today’s technological advancement, it has become a reality. In the dynamic world of eCommerce, brands need to keep up with technological advancement and customers’ expectations.
And customers crave personalization and interactive experiences like the ability to try items on from the comfort of their homes. In this article, we will take a look at the state of rings in jewelry e-commerce today and what Augmented Reality has to offer for online shopping for rings and jewels.
Unlock the power of Virtual Try-On for your store! Let your customers virtually try your products before making a purchase, seamlessly from any device! Try FREE now!
The Rise of AR & Virtual Try-On in Rings E-Commerce
Nowadays, almost anything can be bought online, and jewelry is no exception. The value of this market is predicted to hit $31.9 billion by 2025. As technology evolves, online shopping brings the purchasing experience closer and closer to what customers get in brick-and-mortar stores.
There is nuance to it, however. While some product categories have a better time selling online, others require additional efforts to be as appealing to the customer’s eye. With rings, the issue lies in visualizing the final look of the piece on the customer’s hand. Rings vary in sizes and shapes, and even with complex 3D product visualization tools, it can be difficult to imagine how a ring would look when on a finger.
This is where augmented reality try-on comes into play. This AR software applies a meticulously generated model over the customer’s hand captured on camera. The ring size is adjusted to match the size of the hand, and the customer gets an accurate representation of the size, shape, color, and position of the jewelry piece.
The cohort of AR try-on users is, to little surprise, led by Gen Z. In 2024, the earliest zoomers are old enough to consider marriage, and this is when not one, but two sets of precious rings are required. This is a good chance to leverage the power of augmented reality features for ring sales online.
How Exactly Virtual Rings Try-On Works
Most jewelers offer this service on their dedicated websites or in mobile apps. To try on a ring virtually, the user begins by uploading a clear photo of their hand or selecting a hand model that closely resembles yours.
Some solutions like Zakeke and Banuba’s TINT, Zakeke’s Partner, offer virtual try-on on a live camera input. This way, no photos are required, and a ring can be previewed on the user’s hand in real-time and in motion. Then, using innovative technology, the website or app overlays images of different rings onto the user’s hand, allowing them to see the jewelry from various angles and perspectives.
After choosing a ring from the catalog in the store, customers can see how it looks on their hand, compare it with other options, and share pictures or save their favorites for later. The interface is made to give a realistic preview of the ring, considering things like size, shape, and gemstone brightness.
A good example of this technology in action is wedding and engagement ring retailers like James Allen. The company features the virtual try-on functionality in their app where users can preview a catalog and envision the piece of their choice on their fingers. Ciella & Co. allows users to preview up to two rings on a pre-set hand image or upload a photo of their own. This helps the brand ensure customer satisfaction and, consequently, secure the sales.
The Benefits AR Rings Try-On Can Bring To Your Business
Rings are the type of jewelry that require accurate visualization and are extremely unpredictable when it comes to trying them on due to factors like varying virtual ring sizes, different hand shapes, or the need for precise fit and style. Unlike other jewelry items, rings must fit comfortably and securely, so customers need to be able to accurately visualize how they will look and feel before making a purchase.
Introducing Web AR try-on technology to ring eCommerce can offer several benefits for both customers and businesses. They include but are not limited to:
Enhanced Customer Experience
AR try-on technology allows customers to virtually try on rings from the comfort of their own homes. This immersive experience enhances engagement and satisfaction by providing a realistic preview of how the ring will look on their hand without the need to visit a physical store. This is especially relevant when shopping for engagement and wedding rings: this type of jewelry is typically worn regularly, and it is only natural to want them to look and fit perfectly.
Increased Confidence in Purchase Decisions
Whether precious or not, for weddings or for everyday looks, seeing how a ring appears on their hand through AR can help customers feel more confident in their purchase decisions. They can visualize how the ring will complement their style and fit with their other jewelry before committing.
Reduced Return Rates
By offering virtual rings try-on, businesses can reduce the likelihood of returns due to sizing or style preferences. Customers are more likely to be satisfied with their purchase when they have a clear understanding of how the ring will look and fit before buying.
Personalization and Customization
Virtual try-on is a great way to leverage product customization and personalization options for rings. Customers can experiment with different metals, gemstones, and design elements to create a ring that truly reflects their individual tastes and preferences.
This technology goes beyond mere aesthetics: visualization and AR enable customers to instill sentimental value in their rings by adding meaningful symbols or engravings. From initials to dates to shared phrases and wishes etched discreetly inside the band, each detail can serve as a token of joyous memories or heartfelt promises.
Cost Savings
Virtual Try-on experiences for rings can help businesses save costs associated with maintaining large physical inventories and in-store displays. Each brick-and-mortar store requires at least one piece of each type of rings for display. With virtual try-on, no samples or display windows (which are quite an investment) are needed.
AR features also reduce the need for customers to visit physical stores. When there is a solution that offers an almost identical try-on experience as in a physical location, it can potentially save time and money for overhead expenses for both customers and businesses. TINT by Banuba, Zakeke’s Partner, is exactly that type of solution. With precise hand segmentation, top-quality models, and realistic representation including the physics of the selected jewelry piece, TINT offers your users an immersive online experience.
Marketing and Branding Opportunities
AR try-on in ring e-commerce can serve as a powerful marketing tool. Businesses can showcase their innovative approach to online shopping and generate buzz through social media and other marketing channels, further enhancing brand visibility and reputation.
Retailers and jewelry manufacturers like Dior create masks for social media that allow users to envision the brand’s products on them and share the outcome. This is just one example of how AR can be utilized for marketing purposes. Besides that, imagination is the only limitation for ways to implement virtual experiences for brand promotion.
Overall, integrating AR try-on technology into ring eCommerce can improve the customer experience, drive sales, reduce returns, and provide a competitive edge in the market.
Conclusion
The integration of Virtual Ring Try-On experiences in e-commerce is revolutionizing the way customers shop for jewelry online. With the ability to virtually try on rings from the comfort of their own homes, customers can now make more informed purchase decisions, leading to increased satisfaction and reduced return rates.
This technology not only enhances the customer experience but also offers cost savings for businesses by reducing returns and sample stocks. We invite you to experience the full potential of augmented reality and 3D visualization with the combination of solutions by Banuba and Zakeke.
Unlock the power of Virtual Try-On for your store! Let your customers virtually try your products before making a purchase, seamlessly from any device! Try FREE now!
Banuba
Banuba is a company that specializes in raising engagement, add-to-cart rate, conversion rate, and other business metrics through augmented reality. With several patented technologies developed by an in-house R&D department, Banuba helps app developers and eCommerce businesses succeed in highly competitive environments. This company’s products let end-users test ultra-realistic virtual products, edit videos and photos, apply augmented reality effects, and blend physical with digital in an exciting way.
