Can I buy one yet?
Not yet, but you can reserve one for $1. That holds your spot in the first production run, and the $1 is credited toward the final price when orders open. It's fully refundable anytime, just ask. A reservation isn't a purchase of the pendant and there's no ship date yet: we'll only open orders once we have a working prototype, a production partner, a safety and compliance review, and a delivery estimate we can actually stand behind.
Can I get my $1 back?
Yes, anytime. Just email us (the address is on your reservation receipt) and we'll refund your $1 in full. No questions asked.
How does the translating work?
Set up your languages once in the Ciao Lou app. Then hold the little button in the center of the clover and say it in English. Let go, and Lou says it out loud in their language. When they reply, hold it while they speak and let go to hear it in English.
Does it need my phone or wifi?
No. Your phone is only for the one-time setup and for adding languages in the Ciao Lou app. After that, Lou is designed to translate on the pendant itself, offline, with no phone or wifi. It's a concept still in development, so how it works and its specs may change after prototyping.
What if my phone dies, gets stolen, or I lose signal abroad?
That's exactly why Lou is designed the way it is. After you set up and download your languages once in the Ciao Lou app, translation is meant to happen on the pendant itself — offline, with no phone, wifi, or cell signal. So a dead battery, a stolen phone, a dead zone, or capped roaming data shouldn't stop you from saying hi. It's a concept still in development, so we'll confirm this on a tested prototype.
Which languages will it speak?
We're not sharing a language list yet. It depends on the prototype and the on-device translation we can fit into the pendant, and we'll share it once it's been tested.
How long will the battery last?
Honestly, we don't know yet, and we won't share a number until we've measured a real prototype.
How much will it cost, and when does it ship?
Our working price is $149, but that's still an estimate, and there's no ship date. If you reserve, your $1 comes off the final price, and reservers are the first to hear when there's real news.
Are the pictures real?
They're concept renderings we made while exploring the design, not photos of a manufactured product. The final piece may look different.
What happens after I reserve?
You'll get a receipt for your $1 and the occasional update on the design and prototype. When orders open, you'll get first access, see the final price, and decide whether to order. If you don't, or you change your mind before then, we'll refund your $1.
Is Ciao Lou just a translator?
Ciao Lou is meant to become a whole line of pretty, quietly clever jewelry. The Lou Tag is our very first idea.