Jewellery tag
Specialty tags
What is it?
Jewellery RFID tags are miniaturised UHF tags designed to be attached to rings, necklaces, watches, and other high-value items in retail. They typically take the form of a tiny barbell or dumbbell-shaped label on a fine thread that loops through a clasp or around a display card. The tag must be extremely small (often under 10 mm) yet still provide reliable UHF reads for inventory counting.
How it works
A miniaturised UHF inlay (typically using a near-field UHF antenna design) is encapsulated in a small plastic or paper housing. A fine string or wire loop allows attachment to jewellery without damaging it. Some designs use a butterfly-shaped adhesive label that wraps around a ring band. Near-field UHF coupling is used because far-field antennas at this size would have very poor range.
Use cases
- Jewellery retail inventory
- Watch retail and service tracking
- Precious gemstone tracking
- Luxury goods authentication
- Pawnshop inventory management
Pros
- Enables rapid jewellery inventory counting (minutes vs hours)
- Small enough to attach to rings and fine chains
- Significant shrinkage reduction in retail
- Supports both point-of-sale and backroom inventory
Cons
- Very short read range due to miniaturised antenna
- Higher per-unit cost than standard labels
- Delicate – small tags can be accidentally damaged
- Read performance affected by nearby metal jewellery
Specifications
| Power type | Passive – powered by reader signal |
|---|---|
| Frequency | UHF (860–960 MHz) |
| Read range | 0.5–2 m |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Price range | $0.10–$0.50 per unit |
| Environmental rating | Indoor retail only |