Gemist and Saban Onyx launch embeddable custom-jewelry platform for retailers

The real shift in Gemist and Saban Onyx’s new platform is not the software itself, but the way it could make custom jewelry feel less like a leap of faith. By embedding real-time visualization and dynamic pricing directly into a retailer’s website, the companies are trying to let shoppers see an engagement ring, anniversary piece or birthstone gift take shape before they commit, while the jeweler avoids carrying finished inventory.

Gemist was founded in 2021 by Madeline Fraser after she became frustrated by how difficult it was to design a custom engagement ring online. Fraser first built the company as a direct-to-consumer brand centered on custom design and a try-before-you-buy model, then raised $6 million to scale what she has described as a broader jewelry technology platform. The new offering pushes that idea into a retailer-facing format, an embeddable SaaS-style tool designed for fine jewelry stores that want to sell custom without turning every order into a special project.

Fraser said the goal is to give retailers “awesome user experiences,” with beautiful visuals and dynamic pricing, while still getting fast turnaround through Saban Onyx. That combination matters because custom jewelry is often bought at emotionally charged moments, from proposals to weddings to milestone birthdays, when buyers want reassurance as much as romance. When a shopper can watch a design evolve in real time and see the price update instantly, the process becomes less opaque and far easier to finish online.

Saban Onyx brings the manufacturing side. The company says it operates from New York’s jewelry district and has a team of more than 50 skilled artisans and professionals; National Jeweler reported the factory has more than 80 employees in New York City. Its custom workflow includes sketches, wax models and digital renderings, and the Gemist partnership adds complimentary CADs and 360-degree videos to every order. That gives the finished piece a clearer digital life before it ever reaches the bench, especially useful for buyers judging proportions, setting style and the relationship between center stone and mounting.

The companies will show the platform at Saban Onyx booth #10065 at JCK Las Vegas, where trade buyers will get a close look at a pitch that feels distinctly of the moment: faster custom, clearer pricing and less friction for the shopper. Gemist’s own site says its technology has been associated with higher engagement, repeat consumer rate, units sold and average order values, and the launch suggests why retailers are paying attention. The future of custom may belong to the jeweler who can make a bespoke piece feel immediate, visible and simple enough to order online with confidence.