The Bucardo necklace is a discreet way to wear the Apple Watch
At first glance, the Bucardo necklace looks like a beautiful pendant dangling at the end of a fashionably long chain. But when the pendant lights up, it becomes clear that this is something much more than jewelry. A closer glimpse reveals the Bucardo is really a clever and discreet way to wear the Apple Watch, one that lets the wearer elegantly control the flow of information.
A beautiful way to manage digital distraction
Bucardo, which is the brainchild of local designer Jessica Lee and her brother Jonas (who is based in Los Angeles), re-imagines the way we wear technology so we can better decide when and how to use it.
“The idea for this collection came from looking at our culture here in Silicon Valley and how we are addicted to our devices,” Jessica told Palo Alto Pulse. “We wanted to create something that would allow people to be intentional about using their technology for different purposes. It’s great to wear the Apple Watch on your wrist when you are out walking and tracking your fitness, but when you meet friends for dinner, Bucardo lets you switch to wearing it as a necklace, where it is less distracting.”
A few of Buccardo’s products in silver
Apple Watch case designs for men and women that marry function and form
The Apple Watch slides easily into the Bucardo case
Named for a Spanish mountain goat that went extinct and was brought back to life through cloning, Bucardo strives to merge the aesthetic of long ago with the sensibility of Palo Alto, Silicon Valley and our hyper-connected world. The company produces three Apple Watch case designs that can be worn by men or women- two pendants and one pocket watch.
Jessica and Jonas sought the expertise of both a jewelry designer and an engineer in creating their products to make sure that minimal functionality (other than the fitness tracker) would be lost when the Apple Watch is transferred into the Bucardo cases. The watch itself slips easily in and out of the Bucardo cases, making it quick to transfer from wrist to necklace or pocket.
Kickstarter campaign draws media interest and exceeds goal- a few spots still left
The brother-sister design and business team launched a Kickstarter campaign that is due to end on September 4th and has garnered broad interest from the media and backing from over 200 people.
ABC News said that Bucardo, “marries the high-tech approach of the Apple Watch with the old school fashion of pocket watches and pendants.” Macworld also weighed in enthusiastically about Bucardo, saying: “We like the core idea: Stick your Apple Watch on the end of a chain, like a pocket watch or pendant, and rock your new-school iOS device in a very old-school way.”
Bucardo offers a pocket watch style that is a hit with men and women
Bucardo has exceeded its goal of raising $25,000, and is looking for more investors even in its final days.
The early investor price of $125 for a Bucardo pendant or pocket watch on Kickstarter will probably go up to about $150-$250 when Bucardo products go on sale in stores. The pieces are made of a special metal alloy and plated in sterling silver and 18 karat gold, with some designs featuring crystals by Swarovski®.
A new approach to staying connected…and present
“We hope that Bucardo products will help people reclaim their time by enjoying the Apple Watch in a new and different way,” Jessica said. “We bring an old-fashioned sensibility and make it feel street smart and modern for how we live today.”
All Photos courtesy of Bucardo.
Jessica Lee, co-creator of Bucardo.
