International News
Gemist Raises $6M to Revolutionize Custom Jewelry Sales with 3D SaaS Platform
Jewelry-tech startup Gemist has raised $6 million in seed funding to scale its first-of-its-kind, full-stack SaaS platform designed to transform the global custom jewelry market. The round was led by Entrada Ventures, with participation from The Artemis Fund and Collide Capital, bringing Gemist’s total funding to $9 million since its 2021 launch.
At the heart of Gemist’s platform is a customizable 3D visualization engine, offering photorealistic, real-time rendering that allows customers to design bespoke jewelry pieces online or in-store with confidence. The white-labeled solution empowers retailers to provide a seamless, branded design experience while streamlining production and sales.
Modernizing a $300 Billion Industry
Despite its global value, the $300 billion jewelry industry has remained technologically outdated, with many custom orders still managed manually—often involving lengthy email exchanges, CAD file iterations, and showroom visits.
Gemist addresses these inefficiencies by giving jewelers a digitally native, end-to-end solution for design, visualization, dynamic pricing, quoting, and checkout—fully integrated with their existing e-commerce infrastructure.
“We’re solving the biggest pain point in the industry: how to confidently sell jewelry online,” said Madeline Fraser, Founder and CEO of Gemist. “Our platform gives every jewelry company the ability to let customers dream big – and buy without friction.”
Gemist reports that its users design more than 14,000 custom pieces weekly, with partner brands seeing up to 400% faster sales cycles and a 300% increase in average order value.
Michelle Berlinger, CEO of Berlinger Jewellery, said, “We’ve tried other tools, but nothing comes close to the realism and responsiveness of the Customise Experience. It cut our design process from days to minutes and helped customers confidently purchase high-ticket pieces without ever stepping into our showroom.”
Designed for Jewelers, Built for Growth
Gemist’s platform is accessible via web, tablet, and mobile, offering a fully brandable interface with features including real-time 3D styling, dynamic pricing, and omnichannel sales capabilities.
The new funding will fuel further development in advanced rendering, pricing tools, and deeper commerce integrations to support both digital and brick-and-mortar retailers.
“Gemist is bringing jewelry sales into the digital age,” said Julie Henley, Partner at Entrada Ventures. “Consumers demand personalization, transparency, and beautiful digital experiences. Gemist delivers all three, helping the industry grow without adding operational complexity.”
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Gemist is positioned as a leader in digital transformation for the jewelry sector—giving retailers the tools to enhance customer experience, speed up workflows, and unlock new revenue streams.
International News
De Beers Group Reports H1 2026 Production Surge
The company reported a significant increase in production volume while maintaining its full-year production target of 21 to 26 million carats.
De Beers Group today released its operational and sales performance update for the second quarter and first half of 2026. Driven by strong recovery efforts and strategic access to higher-grade ore bodies, the company reported a significant increase in production volume while maintaining its full-year production target of 21 to 26 million carats.
Despite market pressures stemming from broader macroeconomic volatility, the company continues to advance operational streamlining and cost-optimization initiatives to ensure long-term resilience.
Key Highlights & Operational Summary
- Q2 Production Surge: Production jumped 88% year-on-year to 7.8 million carats in the second quarter, bringing total H1 output to 14.9 million carats (+46% YoY).
- Volume Growth: Consolidated H1 sales volume expanded 13% to 12.4 million carats (total sales volume up 20% to 14.8 million carats).
- Full-Year Guidance Reaffirmed: Full-year output remains targeted at 21–26 million carats, with second-half production planned to balance out via scheduled maintenance and a temporary operational pause at the Venetia mine.
- Resilient High-Value Demand: While entry-level categories faced broader pricing shifts, pricing for higher-value natural diamonds remained firm, providing baseline support to the overall index.
Market Dynamics & Strategic Response
Trading conditions during the first six months of 2026 reflected ongoing global macroeconomic uncertainties and regional conflicts that weighed on general consumer sentiment. Additionally, lower-value natural categories experienced continued pressure from lab-grown alternatives.
In response, De Beers actively adjusted its sales strategies, utilizing its inventory mix to meet existing market demand. While lower-value inventory sales shifted the average realized price to $105 per carat for H1, the company noted that underlying value indices for premium, higher-grade natural goods remained stable throughout the period.
Outlook & Portfolio Optimization
Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, De Beers will align production output directly with global demand signals. The anticipated surge from H1 will be offset by:
- The previously announced two-year operational pause at the Venetia mine.
- Planned facility maintenance at the Orapa and Jwaneng operations in Botswana.
Anglo American continues to execute its operational transformation and strategic divestment plans for De Beers, ensuring capital discipline and long-term organizational value.
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