Finnish Jeweler Kalevala Offers Trendy, Colorful New 3D Printed Pieces in Launzer Marketplace  

A friend of mine, recently engaged — wedding rings on the horizon — was questioning why women must wear such a multitude of accessories and jewelry. From necklaces to toe rings, what’s the point, he asked? Well, that’s a lively, thoroughly animated conversation that could go on endlessly. The bottom line is it’s about dressing up, sprucing up, and most of all — having fun and feeling a little glamorous.

Jewelry is about gifts and memories. It’s about being playful. It’s also often about trying on something new, unique, and eyecatching. It’s about starting a conversation. And doing just that is a new partnership in the form of a Finnish triumvirate, offering a mixture of 3D printing and jewelry to bring us inspiring, provocative wearable art.

Finland’s Kalevala Kory Oy (Kalevala Jewelry), one of the Northern Europe’s most well-known manufacturers of jewelry, is partnering with Launzer, also of Finland. Launzer is a 3D printing marketplace startup which through Kalevala will be offering some very cool, 3D printed jewelry, offering Kalevala’s elegant, classic trademark. The partnership will offer a different angle to a slightly different group of consumers who enjoys being unique, is technologically savvy, and wants to be able to customize items to their own liking.

Sometimes people want to be very formal, and sometimes they just want to be casual and vibrant. Kalevala has a clue regarding trends and versatility, and while they are famous for beautiful collections of classic jewelry, they are branching out into new colors, materials, and forms — as well as 3D printing technology — giving customers further latitude for accessorizing.

Launzer, powered by 3D Online Factory Ltd., offers a wide array of unique, fun 3D printed items, with names bearing titles and modernistic design that are slightly reminiscent of IKEA, for those of us who love to shop for streamlined, progressive items. Consumers can choose and customize items and then either 3D print them from home or order the items 3D printed from vendor i.materialise, headquartered in Belgium.

3D Online Factory, based in Kuopio, Finland, will be launching the designs on the Launzer platform, in their marketplace. 3D Online Factory finds the bulk of the their client base in gaming and entertainment. They currently have 30 partners launching 3D printed products and services this year. Not just confined to Finland, they also work with other well-known names like Warner Brothers, ITV in the United Kingdom, as well as Finland’s Fingersoft, a gaming company.

“We want to be among the leading companies in providing 3D printing and related online services in the world”, says 3D Online Factory’s CEO Kari Voutila. “We are looking for fast growth on global markets by providing consumers and companies selling products a new way to share and experience physical products.”

Along with innovative and creative styles of jewelry, Launzer offers a different spin on items like business card holders, figurines — and even 3D printed ties. In the partnership and collaboration with Kalevala, they will be expanding their selections and inventory, their approach, and their customer base, featuring quality jewelry with a high-tech twist.

“We are especially happy about this collaboration and of the open-minded approach that Kalevala Jewelry has taken to 3D printing,” comments Voutila. “The way Kalevala Jewelry is bringing their classic designs to Launzer is a great realization of the opportunities in 3D printing, where commonly jewels manufactured in metal can experience a new life in new colors and materials.”

With trendy cuffs, rings, and pendants, Kalevala is definitely reaching out with fun new modern accessories that should fit right in with Launzer’s modern style across the board.

“We have always been at the forefront of productional jewelry manufacturing by developing and utilizing unique manufacturing methods such as nanotechnology, computer aided ring design and 3D printing as part of our jewelry manufacturing for over 15 years – without forgetting our Finnish handcraft know-how, which we have successfully combined with cutting-edge technology as a functioning ensemble,” says Kalevala Jewelry’s director of manufacturing Terja Pelkonen. “The Finnish Launzer.com is keeping up with currently rapidly developing consumer trends. We also want to follow these changes to look ahead in to the future, so a collaboration with innovative 3D experts is a natural way for us to act. Wearing a jewel is cheerful and playful, with the help of Launzer we are making wearing jewelry even more delightful.”

Is this jewelry that would appeal to you? Have you 3D printed any of your own jewelry that looks comparable? Discuss in the Kalevala 3D Printed Jewelry forum over at 3DBP.com.