These rings let you feel your loved one's heartbeat

Described as “the most sophisticated ring in the world”, the Touch HB Ring is a smart wedding band that lets you feel the rhythm of your partner’s heartbeat in real time.

Phone calls and apps like Facetime or Skype are great in long-distance relationships, but they can only do so much. The internet may connect the world like never before, but it still can’t offer an alternative to physical affection. Or can it? Wearable-tech company Touch has recently unveiled a revolutionary set of rings that rely on advanced technology to make wearers feel closer to each other even when they are hundreds or thousands of miles away.

The “heartbeat sharing” feature of Touch HB Rings allow wearers to send and receive the rhythm of their heartbeats through the rings. All you have to do is download the companion smartphone app, pair it with the ring and add your loved one’s profile in the app. Then, whenever you tap the ring you’ll be able to feel the other person’s heart rhythm on your finger.

HB Rings are crafted from a band of either stainless steel or rose gold and a molded block of sapphire crystal that Touch claims is harder than conventional gold as well as scratch and water resistant. The minimalistic design is definitely appealing, but in this case, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. The wearables company says that every heartbeat-sharing ring is made up of over 100 components, including a battery, a circular LED array, a charging connector, a “multidimensional” motherboard, sensors and a physical feedback motor.

Judging by the technology and quality materials that go into these tiny 3.8mm thick and 12.1mm wide wonders, it’s no surprise that they command a premium price tag. Touch will be selling both the rose gold and stainless steal heartbeat rings in sets of two, with prices for the former starting at $3,000, and “only” $600 for the latter. The company has started taking pre-orders on August 2 and plans to begin shipping the 18K gold rings in November, and the stainless steel variant in December.

The Touch HB Ring is not the first gadget to allow people to send their loved ones heartbeats. The Apple Watch features similar functionality through its Digital Touch app, allowing you to send someone a recorded heartbeat, but these rings transmit heartbeats in real time. It remains to be seen just how accurate they really are, but the idea is definitely an intriguing one.

The heartbeat sharing feature may seem romantic, but what happens when you’re connected with your special someone and they lose internet connectivity or their ring runs out of battery? Their heartbeat is gone and they’re not answering their phone? What’s the first thought that goes through your head in such a scenario? Creepy, right?