De Beers Group Ventures has sunk more money into Gemist, which allows customers to test out a replica of a custom-made piece before completing the purchase.
Los Angeles—De Beers Group Ventures is investing more money in online jewelry retailer Gemist, which specializes in “try-and-buy” technology.
The diamond company’s venture capital arm participated in a $3 million round of seed funding led by Entrada Ventures.
De Beers first invested an undisclosed amount in the company in July 2020.
Julie Henley McNamara, managing partner of Entrada, will join the Gemist board alongside De Beers’ Stephen Lussier, who is set to retire this spring.
Gemist CEO Madeline Fraser sat down for a Zoom interview with National Jeweler Wednesday to talk about what she plans to do with this latest round of funding.
Madeline Fraser is the founder and CEO of Gemist.
On Gemist’s website, customers can create a custom jewelry design and then receive a free replica of the piece, letting them try it on and wear it before completing the purchase.
Fraser, who specializes in creating consumer-facing technology, is looking to bolster the platform’s tech to simplify the online jewelry buying process.
“We’ve already built a very dynamic design experience on our platform that’s mobile and web friendly,” she said.
“There’s going to be a lot more user experience and user interface development based on a ton of user testing we’re doing that’s going to make that even more exciting and easy to use.”
The Gemist app allows shoppers to customize jewelry, choosing from a variety of gemstones, metals, and other options.
Users can customize engagement rings and wedding bands, but also everyday jewelry like earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and statement rings.
The company received feedback from customers that indicated when creating a piece, they’d like to be able to see multiple pieces at once, like stackable rings or how several earrings would look together on someone with multiple piercings.
“We’re going to be working on unique ways to allow consumers to really see that entire picture, not just one individual piece, but multiple pieces, as we grow and scale,” said Fraser.
Though customers are increasingly comfortable buying jewelry online, Gemist’s try-before-you-buy approach lowers the risk for the more cautious shopper.
Fraser describes it as “a nice middle ground” between technology and a personalized touch.
The founder also plans to expand the Gemist team, which now numbers fewer than five people.
“We’re very much a start-up. I run companies in a very scrappy and efficient way,” said Fraser.
And Gemist is not her first start-up. She previously launched Zoom Interiors, an interior design platform that was featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” and Hutch, a “try-before-you-buy” mobile app for furniture.
As for her growing team, she’s looking to add people to the marketing, merchandising, and engineering departments.
Gemist will invest in its marketing department as it looks to set up more affiliate and brand partnerships and create more advertising.
With its new funding, Gemist is looking to bolster its advertising.
When looking for a brand partner, said Fraser, Gemist values both diversity and sustainability.
“I really want women with different backgrounds and industry expertise because I think that’s what’s going to make it really fun, those different, eclectic, unique stories,” she said.
Sustainability is also important to the brand, she said, adding that it hopes to reframe the conversation around that topic.
“We’re working alongside De Beers. We’re very conscious about sustainability and the positive social and environmental impact that jewelry can have in the world. We want to shed more light on all of that stuff and cut out the BS.”
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The point where sustainability and storytelling meet is Gemist’s sweet spot.
“What we’re trying to do is add storytelling and meaning back into jewelry and ditch this idea of fast fashion,” said Fraser.
People like to share the meaning behind their favorite jewels, like a gift from a friend or a piece that marks a special occasion, but brands aren’t as good at telling those stories, said Fraser.
“You can actually create jewelry that tells your story and is an extension of who you are. It can be done sustainably. It can be made with responsibly sourced materials. It can be handmade exactly for you.”
The Moon and Stars necklace by Gemist
During the Zoom call, Fraser was wearing Gemist’s Moon and Stars necklace, which she designed herself in honor of her late mother, an ode to the power of storytelling.
“She always used to say she was the moon and we were her stars, meaning myself and my siblings,” explained Fraser.
The piece is customizable, letting users add gemstones and choose the number of stars.
One of the most important pieces Fraser ever created was her own customized morganite engagement ring, which is where her jewelry journey started.
She met with a jeweler in downtown Los Angeles, squished into a small room. And while the ring was lovely, the experience left something to be desired.
“I thought the experience was a bummer. It was hard and overwhelming, but what I was surprised by was by the end of it, the guy made the ring in two weeks,” she said.
“It was exactly what I wanted and affordable compared to other stuff that I had seen out there. That, for me, was the really beautiful ‘a-ha!’ moment.”
She realized then that custom jewelry could be made quickly and affordably, but the “backwards” process needed to be overhauled.
Though new to the jewelry world, Fraser prioritized learning and educating herself, with the help of her customers via consumer calls and user testing.
Customers share what they’d like to see, whether that’s different cuts, settings, or gemstones.
“The consumers lead, in a lot of ways, the merchandising path that Gemist ends up taking,” said Fraser.
Looking to the year ahead, which is expected to see a record number of engagements and weddings, the company is preparing for a substantial influx of customers.
Gemist is primarily a tech platform, explained Fraser, so it doesn’t have to hold as much inventory as a traditional jeweler, making scaling up an easier feat.
“It’s going to be really fun to create new and unique designs and learn from what this consumer base wants in the future,” she said.
Fraser added she feels lucky and privileged to be able to lead Gemist.
“There are not a lot of women doing what I’m doing and so I think that it’s good for me to represent the female energy in both of these industries [tech and jewelry]. It’s important to show other women that they can do this.”
For more information about Gemist, visit the company’s website.
