Hidden memories to last billions of years with SPhotonix 5D memory crystal in Boucheron jewellery

•        World first collaboration between global jewellery maison and deep tech pioneer

•        Boucheron has launched its new innovative capsule ‘Quatre 5D Memory’ ring

•        Memories nano-etched into SPhotonix quartz crystals

•        5D memory crystals can last billions of years

Newark, Delaware, November 20th : SPhotonix have collaborated with global jewellery brand, Boucheron, to provide the unique memory crystal for its latest innovative capsule, the ‘Quatre 5D memory’ ring, a world-first creation fusing high tech with high end creativity and artistry. The new piece has been revealed as part of Boucheron’s first ever New York boutique launch. Led by Boucheron’s Creative Director, Claire Choisne, and inspired by her childhood memories of the seaside, the ring contains the memory of water with a unique score provided by IRCAM (the French Institute for Acoustic/Music Research and Coordination) – Centre Pompidou nano-etched by SPhotonix into a quartz crystal.

Professor Peter Kazansky, of University of Southampton and the Chief Science Officer of SPhotonix has developed the 5D memory technology with his Optoelectronics Research team. 5D memory is an optical storage process for digital data. 5D Memory Crystals are created using groundbreaking technology, where ultrafast light pulses are fired into quartz glass, using high precision, computer-controlled laser based systems.

The technology enables creation of nano structures inside the 3 dimensions of a glass plate, further extended by an additional 2 optical dimensions, namely birefringence and strength retardance. In combination this enables ultra-dense storage of data, not on the surface, but deep inside the glass plate, making it the most durable storage medium available today.

The key to reading data also involves light. By using polarized light illumination the birefringent data points will change the polarization of the light passing through them. By viewing these changes using a polarized light microscope, the data can be read and translated into their original format.

Commenting on this unique collaboration, Prof. Peter Kazansky, SPhotonix said:

“The possibilities for our 5D memory crystal are endless, however this collaboration with Boucheron, a high jewellery maison, is perhaps the most enchanting. It’s a beautiful fusion of deep tech, music, art and craftsmanship into a unique, collectible piece of jewellery to be treasured for billions of years. At SPhotonix, we are delighted to have been able to collaborate with Boucheron and support them in their creative thinking and execution.”

Hélène Poulit-Duquesne, CEO of Maison Boucheron, said:

“‘Quatre 5D Memory’ perfectly embodies Boucheron’s vision of pushing boundaries. By succeeding in encapsulating an audio work within a jewelry design, we are exploring new territories of expression and opening up limitless realms of possibility. The “Quatre 5D Memory” ring becomes the vessel that holds a memory, an emotion, that is given to future generations.”

For the Quatre ring, in part due to its size, 5D engraving made it possible to record up to 100 megabytes of data in the material, which will last for billions of years. This technology makes the “Quatre 5D Memory” ring a true time(less) capsule. The data is, in fact, protected by being written within the material, rather than on its surface.

This collaboration comes hot off the heels of SPhotonix and University Southampton’s recent announcement about the world first ever storage of the human genome onto a 5D memory crystal that can last billions of years which garnered global interest. SPhotonix has developed from the research led by Kazansky at the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton.