I still remember the first time I encountered the Oura Ring. It was the early days of wearable tech, and at Women Love Tech, we ran a story about this incredible innovation when it first launched. It felt distinct from the noisy clutter of the Silicon Valley rush; it was quiet, purposeful, and, like so many enduring innovations, think Nokia, it hailed from Finland in 2013.
Back then, a friend of mine managed to get one early in the piece. It was a stark, black band and totally unique but also technological and utilitarian. It has been widely copied since then, but Oura will never lose its first to market status, and from my experience it’s still setting a blueprint that others are trying to trace.
Today, you can find Oura smart rings in a range of colours and sheens from rose gold to black and evencool ceramic colours, from “Petal”, a soft shade of pink, and even a baby or midnight blue. But I love the shiny Gold finish of the Gold Oura 4. For me, this is matches the rest of my jewellery. But if you are a silver girl, there’s plenty of choice for you too.
Unlike the plasticised aesthetics of most fitness trackers, the Oura Ring 4 disappears into my style rather than dominating it. Some people enjoy their symbol of health tracking to stand out, but I prefer mine to coexist seamlessly. That said, I also love the idea of being able to wear different colours to match an outfit, or even pair with my mood.
You see these rings everywhere now. It is a growing sign of how we have collectively embraced the ability of tech to keep us on track. I sometimes laugh when I spot actors in period films who refuse to abandon their rings, even if it makes the scene less realistic. It speaks to a modern addiction to data, but also to how comfortable the hardware has become.
The new Oura Ring 4 has refined this comfort significantly. It is Oura’s first fully titanium ring, featuring a titanium interior that replaces the epoxy of previous generations. The difference on the finger is palpable. While the previous Gen 3 had raised interior domes for sensors (about 1.3mm high), the new sensors are recessed and barely noticeable at just 0.3mm. It is a sleek, non-allergenic shell that feels less like a gadget and more like a wedding band.
Today, just like every day, my morning begins with a ritual: I check my sleep pattern. If it’s good, I’m happy. It sets the tone for my productivity.
Last night, for instance, I recorded a 6-hour and 50-minute sleep. My resting heart rate was 49 beats per minute, resulting in a Sleep Score of 82—a “Good” rating written in reassuring green text. Happy days. I know my typical sleep score hovers around 78, so this was a win.
But the data goes deeper than just sleep duration. My cumulative stress at the moment is categorized as “Thriving,” written in blue, and my Heart Health is “Looking Good” in green. Perhaps most gratifyingly, the app registers my cardiovascular age as two years lower than my actual age.
The accuracy of this data is powered by Oura’s new “Smart Sensing” platform. Unlike older technology that used a fixed configuration, this new system dynamically selects the optimal signal path to get the clearest reading from your finger. Whether I am typing, running, or sleeping, the ring is hunting for the best signal, utilizing red and infrared LEDs for blood oxygen and green LEDs for heart rate.
My go-to Oura app offers a bountiful amount of reading material, providing context to the raw numbers. This morning, it told me: “Thriving stress management with steady sleep and heart health. Your stress management continues to thrive over the past 90 days, reflecting solid recovery habits. While your sleep health and heart health remain looking good, maintaining routines that support rest and cardiovascular care can enhance overall balance.”
It then offered me the chance to “dive in with an advisor.” This is where the device transitions from a tracker to a coach. I get activity goals, and I can delve into granular metrics like heart rate variability, respiratory rate, and body temperature variations.
For women specifically, this temperature tracking is a game-changer. The digital sensor measures skin temperature variations, making it particularly good for women wanting to keep track of their cycle. It offers a window into the body’s hormonal shifts that few other devices can match without being invasive.
From a practical standpoint, the anxiety of a dead battery has also been alleviated. The new ring boasts up to 8 days of battery life , meaning I can travel for a week without frantically searching for the charger—though the new grey, square charger is stylish enough to leave on the bedside table.
In short, it is utterly amazing. I feel in control of my health like never before. In a world of noise and distraction, the Oura Ring 4 offers a quiet, gold-plated truth about how I am really doing. It’s not just a gadget; it’s a game-changer for your health.
Is The Gold Oura Ring 4 Actually Gold?
No, the Oura Ring 4 is not made from actual gold but is a titanium ring with a gold coloured Physicl Vapor Deposition. This is a durable, non-precious metal coating applied to the titanium exterior to give it a gold appearance.
- Material: The ring itself is made of titanium, both inside and out, for durability and biocompatibility.
- Finish: The gold color is achieved through a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) process, which applies a thin, durable coating to the titanium.
- Other finishes: The Black and Stealth versions use a Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) coating, while Silver and Rose Gold also use PVD.
- Price: The price difference between the gold and silver versions is due to the added manufacturing process of the PVD coating, not the cost of precious metal.
Price starts at $349. Available to order at https://ouraring.com.