Never giving up on fashion. How I, a vintage lover, arrived at a smart ring for health management

I live between fashion and technology.

Smartwatches are convenient, but honestly, they don't always match my style... Have you ever felt that way? As someone who works with vintage jewelry, I'm someone who cares about styling. But I also want to manage my sleep quality and daily condition using technology.

The "smart ring" is what granted that selfish wish of mine. From the Oura Ring I used for three years to the subscription-free RingConn, I'd like to review how a single ring has changed my life and my peace of mind.

↑Oura Ring

In Japan, smart rings don't seem to have gained as much mainstream acceptance as smartwatches yet, so I'm sure many of you reading this are hearing about them for the first time.

By the way, I am a heavy user of such niche smart rings. Moreover, I have actually used smart rings from two different brands. I've almost never heard of anyone who has actually used smart rings from two brands (I haven't met anyone yet) (setting aside the fact that I don't have many friends). In fact, when I was purchasing them myself, there were almost no comparison reviews, so I would like to summarize my actual usage experience.

Having loved the Oura Ring for three years and now having switched to RingConn, I will honestly write about the "differences beyond the numbers" that I felt.

The conclusion first

• Conclusion: I am on the RingConn side. No subscription required, long battery life, detailed sleep analysis, and it's thin and easy to pair with other rings.

• The Oura Ring is also a contributor. The Oura Ring is what created the habit of "visualizing" my health with a ring for me. It has many users and abundant information.

↓RingConn Gen 2 Smart Ring. I am using the Royal Gold one.

↓The Oura Ring in gold color that I used for about 3 years.

With that said, let's get into a detailed review. But before that...

To begin with, why a "ring type" for health management?

I think this is a point that many people are quite concerned about. In fact, before I started using a ring-type health management device, I had also considered a smartwatch (like an Apple Watch). However, for me, as someone who runs a vintage jewelry brand, the sporty atmosphere of smartwatches, starting with the Apple Watch, is (to put it simply) unsettling. Or rather, I couldn't personally accept the mismatch of that combination.

Furthermore, since my primary goal was 'health management,' such as tracking sleep and daily activities, it was also an important point that it be something I could wear 24/7 without stress. On top of that, honestly, the Apple Watch just didn't seem to fit the styling I like (vintage clothing, vintage, or dressy fashion) (perhaps due to my lack of styling ability), and my honest impression was that it felt out of place... That's why I couldn't quite bring myself to purchase one.

On the other hand, what is good about a smart ring is that even when paired with vintage jewelry, the fact that 'it doesn't look strange to wear all the time' was a fairly big deciding factor.For those who are particular about fashion but still want to manage their health, a smart ring is highly recommended.

The good points of a smart ring

• It blends into daily life. It is less likely to look out of place during sports or even with 'dressy outfits' like vintage styles.

• Zero stress even while sleeping. It is definitely more comfortable than wearing a wristwatch to bed.

• It also acts as a pedometer, which is appreciated since I aim for 10,000 steps a day.

My history (based on honesty)

Oura (2022–2025, about 3 years)

Meeting several people in the business world who were wearing Oura Rings one after another was the biggest trigger for my purchase. Furthermore, it is a brand that has built a position like Disney in the entertainment industry, to the point where it is said that 'when you think of smart rings, you think of Oura Ring.' I started using it with the peace of mind that 'everyone is using it, so it must be the right choice.'

At first, I charged it once every 3 to 4 days. However, after 3 years passed, there were days when I couldn't get my daily scores unless Icharged it twice a day, which was a sign to replace it. Furthermore, I had always been concerned about the monthly subscription fee, so I started considering switching.

↑ Oura Ring

RingConn (2025–present, 3rd month of use)

The phrase 'no subscription required' was the deciding factor. Being able to charge it in the case also fits into my life more than I imagined. Honestly, there is no end to the benefits I could list. I can feel the strength of a late-comer brand (precisely because I have actually used Oura). Before I knew it, I couldn't find a reason to go back...

What is an Oura Ring?

Pros of the Oura Ring

• The "large number of users" means you can find answers by searching if you get stuck. (Though this benefit has diminished now that you can usually solve things by asking ChatGPT or Gemini.)

• It helped me build the habit of managing my health with a smart ring.

• The UI is beautiful, and there was a time when looking at the morning dashboard was a small pleasure.

Cons of the Oura Ring

"Hmm" points (this is my honest opinion)

1. Not just the initial cost of the device, but a subscription is mandatory.

It's not a one-time purchase; it costs $6 a month (a little over 1,000 yen) to use. This is something that bothers me the whole time I'm paying for it. Maybe it's my Kansai DNA reacting, but it just doesn't sit right with me...

2. The existence of the Readiness Score (Condition Score)

This is something I realized after I stopped using it. On days when the condition score is good, I can start the day in a good mood. Conversely, even if I woke up feeling refreshed, if the Oura Ring app screen said, "You are in low condition today," strangely enough, even if my body felt fine, my spirits would drop. There are days when the numbers encourage you. Conversely, there are days when you start off feeling down because of the numbers. I realized after I stopped using it that my mood was being swayed by it to some extent.

3. The ring is bulky

I am well aware that it is a device and therefore difficult to make small, but it is a bit large for an Asian woman to wear. And it was bulky even for me, with a frame that would be called slender if anything. Every time I did a jewelry shoot for my own brand, there was always a ritual of taking off the Oura Ring so it wouldn't show up in the photos. (Whispering)

4. Battery degradation from long-term use.

This was the deciding factor. Just as you replace smartphones every few years, health management devices aren't a one-time purchase; the battery wears out, so you have to replace them every few years. On top of that, having to pay a monthly subscription means double the cost, which is what prompted me to switch from the Oura Ring to another brand.

Switching to RingConn

So, after doing some research, the one I decided to buy after the Oura Ring is RingConn.

Below, I will organize the key points.

Basic Information about RingConn

• Manufacturer: RingConn Ltd. (a wearable development company based in Hong Kong)

• Launch Period: Full-scale rollout from 2021 (user base is still small in Japan)

• Price Range: Around 50,000 yen (varies by color / gold models are higher)

• Subscription: None (all features available with a one-time purchase)

• Compatible OS: iOS / Android

Main Features

• Sleep Analysis (measures REM, non-REM, deep sleep, etc. in detail)

• Tracking of heart rate, stress, body temperature, blood oxygen level (SpO₂), etc.

• Step count, calories burned, and activity logs

• Long battery life (up to 7+ days) ← This is truly a delight!

• Includes a charging case (the case itself functions as a mobile battery)

The "quiet revolution" that happened with RingConn

The good points of RingConn

① No subscription!

I was surprised at how much peace of mind this alone brings! It's not just about reducing one fixed cost. Just not having that $6 monthly fee, which brings peace of mind, is so calming! Moreover, the actual data information it captures is more than the Oura Ring. It's precise. It's interesting.

② Detailed sleep analysis

The distribution of REM, non-REM, and deep sleep is visualized, and “what to adjust to improve the score” becomes concretely visible. From here, I reread several books on sleep and created a sleep experiment notebook, which led to new discoveries. I had long misunderstood, or rather convinced myself, that I was a long sleeper, but I found out that 8 hours is actually the optimal amount of sleep for me. If I hadn't switched to RingConn, I wouldn't have known this either.

③ Charging stress has completely disappeared

The tragedy of “the battery died without me knowing,” which happened frequently when I was using Oura, has completely disappeared, and that might be the number one benefit that made me glad I switched.

I used to charge the Oura Ring every 2-3 days, but the RingConn lasts 7-10 days on a single charge. This is incredibly stress-free.

④ Thin. Easy to stack.

It's a difference of a fraction of a millimeter, but it's made slightly thinner than the Oura Ring, and this has made it considerably more comfortable to wear. To be honest, the Oura Ring was a bit of a large size (I had ordered the smallest size, but as expected of a Western company, I could only wear the smallest size on my thumb...), but the RingConn fits snugly. This alone makes a huge difference in stress levels. Or rather, zero stress. I am truly grateful that it doesn't look out of place even when combined with other vintage rings or imported rings.

The downsides of RingConn, if I had to name them

Color tone

Honestly, there are no points to mention, but if I had to force it, it might be the color tone. However, regarding this, as you continue to use it, the plating will inevitably peel off to some extent, so the color tone settles down. Honestly, it doesn't bother me at all, but my first impression was, “Maybe Oura has a more luxurious feel.” But after a month of using it, I stopped caring.

I want to recommend RingConn to these types of people

• Those who are particular about fashion but want to manage their health

• Those who want to manage their health but don't like wearing a wristwatch to sleep

• Those who have many styles that don't easily go with a smartwatch

• I don't want to increase my subscriptions, I want to choose peace of mind

• I want to specifically improve my sleep (I want to see it down to the “minutes and percentages”)

• I don't want to ruin the aesthetic even when stacking it with jewelry

In short, it is recommended for people like me who are particular about fashion, but also quite particular about increasing productivity and managing their health.

My conclusion (as of now)

Oura gave me the habit of “managing my health.” RingConn gave me the “breathing room” to maintain my health with peace of mind. The invention of the smart ring itself has definitely boosted my QOL (quality of life). I can no longer imagine a life without one.

I think the good thing about health management devices, including smart rings and smartwatches, is that you can incorporate health management like a game. Since I started using a smart ring, walking 10,000 steps a day has naturally become a habit (it stimulates the desire for achievement, making exercise feel like a game), and I have started learning about sleep and designing my environment to improve my sleep score and maximize my daytime performance.

The big change is that wearing the ring has served as a catalyst for naturally fostering health maintenance. I would be happy if those of you who “want to live a healthy life but haven't been able to put it into practice well” would consider a smart ring as an option. Also, I hope this serves as a reference for those who have been using an Oura Ring for many years and are thinking about trying another brand.

↓RingConn Gen 2 Smart Ring. I am using the Royal Gold one.

↓The Oura Ring in gold color that I used for about 3 years.

Thank you for reading today as well.

I am also talking about today's content with great enthusiasm on the radio. If you would like to hear more details about the differences or about RingConn, click here↓

If you like these kinds of health-related experience records, please check out the following as well. Incidentally, this is one of the most viewed articles on my note.

If you liked today's article, or found it helpful or interesting, I would love for you to “like” or “follow” me. It encourages my next writing.

Thank you all, as always.
Have a wonderful weekend.