Can you tell us more about the Yasamine name and what it stands for?
Yasamine is my middle name! It has a very feminine sound to it, and I always knew it would be the name of my business. I actually created the brand and logo long before I started “Yasamine Co.”.
You have an online presence but do you also have a storefront in the Bay Area?
At this time, it is in the best interest of the business to operate 100% online to reduce overhead costs. I keep overhead low so I can offer competitive prices, and focus on customer service, rather than running a store.There has been a shift in engagement rings over the last few years. We have seen a lot more moissanite, lab diamond and gemstone rings. Do you think this is mostly due to cost, social responsibility or the influence from celebrity culture and the Royal family?
Historically, colored gemstones were the most coveted, but thanks to the aggressive Debeers marketing campaigns, diamonds were considered “symbol of engagement”. Sadly, there is still a social construct around a diamond being the official stone for an engagement ring, and some people feel uncomfortable opting for a colored gem or anything not diamond. I am happy to see this new generation of couples expanding their options and prioritizing other milestones, like buying a home, and opting for moissanite instead.
The round on a simple solitaire used to be the symbol of engagement. If someone contacts you and they have no idea of what they want or what their SO might want, do you typically recommend a solitaire because it is ‘safe’?
Interestingly enough, every customer has had some idea of what they want, or at least a list of shapes they like best. I have actually never outright recommended something without some sort of direction from the customer, and I think this is because most couples discuss the ring ahead of time, which is great!
I believe a couple decades ago round solitaires were the standard, and people were less likely to step outside that comfort zone for a fancy shape, or discuss the ring ahead of time, so perhaps the man or woman just assumed a round was the safe choice. Nowadays, fancy shapes are more plentiful and each person has their own preference of what best represents them.
How often do women contact you about ordering an engagement ring for themselves?
All. The. Time. It is not always clear if they are buying it as an engagement ring, but I can tell you that the majority of inquiries I receive are from women. These days women are becoming more and more involved in the decision making for their ring. It is a joint decision, and couples discuss budget, timing and style together. Some women gather information to hand off to their SO, and some women take it all the way through purchase and production. Not everyone is buying an engagement ring however; I have received a lot of inquiries from women who are looking for an upgrade, a travel ring, or something to swap out for fun.
Why did you choose to go with your own branded moissanites instead of carrying one of the major brands? I saw there was an opportunity to offer a new, unique brand of moissanite, and fill some gaps in the market. I have created my own brand and focus on fancy shapes and custom cut dimensions. I try and fulfill the customers needs, and if someone wants a custom cut stone, I will work hard to make that happen. I noticed that not a lot of other brands were offering this option, and a good crushed ice cut was very hard to find at a good price.
Can someone request a custom cut? Where is the best place to see videos and comparisons of your moissanites and lab diamonds?
Yes! One size does not fit all. We can cut to custom dimensions, depending on your preference. For fancy shapes, it is important to determine which ratio you prefer. Some people prefer something more square, others prefer more elongated, chunky or skinny, and I am happy to work with you to determine the perfect dimensions for your ring size. We post videos on our Instagram (@yasamineco) and Vimeo channel (www.vimeo.com/yasamineco)
What do you find the biggest misconception about moissanite's and lab diamonds to be?
There are actually two main misconceptions that I encounter often:
1) The most common is that moissanite is “not real”. The concept of “real” is a social construct. Moissanites are real gemstones, and are unique in their own right. And lab diamonds are real diamonds! Who cares where they came from? A trained gemologist cannot even tell the difference without the help of a specialized lab, like GIA. Couples are turning to moissanite and lab diamonds as an ethical, affordable decision, and should not waste a second listening to this nonsense.
2) The second most common misconception is that moissanite can be “cloudy” or “hazy” or “milky”. Poorly cut moissanite from a low quality rough material can definitely be cloudy. And that is why we have quality control. Every stone is cut to order, and goes through quality control, with myself as the last inspection.
What is the best way to properly clean moissanite’s or lab diamond jewelry?
I recommend using warm water, dish soap and a soft baby toothbrush. You can also pick up an ultrasonic cleaner off Amazon, or a jewelry cleaning kit from a store like Target or Walmart.
We see a lot of people interested in colored moissanite or lab diamonds. Are there any colors that you offer?
Yes! We offer canary yellow, emerald green, gray and teal-blue.
People choose moissanite for many different reasons. I am sure you get this question a lot about ‘which is the most diamond like moissanite’. What do you say to those customers?
This is the most common question I receive! I find the round brilliant to be the closest resemblance to a round brilliant diamond. After this, I would say that the crushed ice cut (cushion, oval, radiant) will be the second most similar to a crushed ice diamond, and the step cuts (emerald, asscher) are on the same level as well.
I will tell you that on two separate occasions I was sitting next to a woman with a large center stone, and was able to get a really good look at it. One was an emerald, and the other was an oval. I was not able to determine if the stone was a diamond or a moissanite, and I handle these stones every day! When the ring is on someone's hand it is really hard to determine if it is a diamond or not, so I really urge customers to not worry about this when making a purchase because most people are going to assume it is a diamond.
Another question we see a lot is ‘at what size does a moissanite start looking fake’. Most people recommend not going over 2.5 carats. Do you think that is a good guideline or is it specific to each cut?
If you are wanting your moissanite to pass as a diamond, I recommend you choose a size that fits your lifestyle, and probably not go over a 2.75-3ct equivalent. If you would otherwise choose a 2ct diamond but don’t feel the need to waste your hard earned money (yeah girl), then go for a 2-2.5ct equivalent moissanite. If you would normally buy a 1.5ct diamond, then go for a 1.5-2ct equivalent moissanite.
If you just think moissanite is beautiful and want a huge rock (yeah girl) then you should buy whatever size you want! Large moissanite stones are beautiful and you can still get a really nice, clear, sparkly stone.
What is your personal favorite moissanite cut?
My favorite cut has to be crushed ice. I love a crushed ice cut diamond, so naturally it was important for me to perfect the crushed ice cut moissanite as well. The step cuts (emerald and asscher) are also very stunning and elegant.
Very thin pave rings with larger center stones have been very popular lately. When a customer asks for a thin pave ring, what is the thinnest you are willing to go? At what point would you say the band will warp and you will loose pave diamonds?
The thinner the band, the more likely you are going to experience warp and damage. We manufacture our settings to be strong and sturdy, and I can’t sell something I don’t stand behind.
For a very small center stone I might agree to go to 1.5-1.6mm at a minimum, but I will always recommend something wider. For larger center stones, I recommend at least a 1.7-2mm band width. The wider you go, the more strength and durability you will get, and there is more metal for your melee stones to be secured. I will never go below 1.5-1.6mm because that just makes your ring vulnerable to damage and loss of melee stones.
Yasamine Co.’s mission is to provide customers with a cherished piece of jewelry they will wear forever, and my hope is that your piece will be passed down as an heirloom, so durability and craftsmanship is of the utmost importance.