The Gucci x Oura ring.
oura
The Oura Smart Ring is a smart wearable that looks like a regular ring, but has sensors that can read heart rate, temperature and respiratory rate. It’s a slick and capable device. It’s already available in a variety of colors and finishes, but now there’s a new, high-end version that has just been unveiled.
This is the Gucci x Oura Ring and it looks fantastic. So it should, it costs $950.
That’s just over three times the regular Oura Ring, and it’s a distinctly different design, with a completely round shape, as opposed to the flat-sided, near-circle of the conventional Oura Ring Generation 3.
And where the other Oura rings are without markings, this one has two chains of 18K gold around it – it’s called a braided torch. Anyway, it looks great.
The interlocking Gucci logo is placed multiple times around the ring, all in black except for one which is gold. The other big design change from the regular bezel is the charging puck adorned with the interlocking G. Heck, even the USB-C connector has the symbol on it.
And if you need any other reminders, in the center of the puck is Gucci, in gold, of course.
Gucci x Oura Ring and charging puck.
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Like the other Oura Rings, this one is made of titanium (apart from the gold bits, of course) and weighs the same as the others, just 4 grams.
The technology in the ring is identical to other models. That is, the same sensors and software. It measures the heart rate of the arteries in the finger, which some say is more accurate than that of the wrist.
That four ounce weight is important when it comes to sleep tracking: Unlike a watch, wearing the Oura at night is almost imperceptible. And the information it gives you is detailed and comprehensive, so you know when you wake up how to optimize the next day.
It gives you sleep, activity and readiness scores, along with personalized guidance.
I have been using the Oura Ring for a long time now and I find it a useful, informative analysis of my body.
Gucci x Oura ring.
oura
So why, you might ask, should you consider paying up to $650 for Gucci branding? The point is, this is a much better value than it looks.
That’s because the regular Generation 3 ring has a monthly fee of $6. You can use it without it, but you just get more basic stats and subscribers see new features added regularly.
However, the Gucci variant has the not insignificant extra of a lifetime subscription to the service. Granted, that’s only a savings of $72 a year if you pay monthly, but if you keep it for five years, you’ve saved $360, which brings the price down significantly. Keep it for 10 years, and the $720 you saved means the Gucci model costs less than the regular Ring, even without the $6-a-month subscription.
Sure, you can’t keep a piece of technology for 10 years, but it’s certainly a resilient, well-made object, so maybe you could. And of course it looks fantastic.
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