By Rebecca Brando x The Big Magazine
Jasmine Waltz, best known for her acting roles in 'Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser' and the 2022 horror flick 'House Red,' has now ventured into the jewelry industry with her brand, Waltz Diamonds.
In 2023, during the pandemic, actress and entrepreneur Jasmine Waltz established her brand, Waltz Diamonds, creating luxury jewelry using eco-friendly diamonds that do not harm the environment. Jewelry has always played a pivotal role in Jasmine’s life.
Although renowned luxury jewelry brands such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Chopard, and Harry Winston establish the benchmark, emerging designers like Waltz are redefining the industry with high-quality craftsmanship and accessible price points
Lab-grown diamonds and gemstones are trending, offering sustainable and ethically sourced alternatives. Beyond everyday essentials, Waltz has designed statement pieces like an 18k gold emerald snake ring flanked by tiny diamonds or her 14k evil eye necklace that's delicate enough to wear every day to keep the haters away.
From simple everyday staple pieces to dripping in bling, her latest collection appeals to every jewelry lover while prioritizing sustainability and ethical sourcing.
The Big Magazine sat down with Jasmine to discuss her journey and the inspiration behind Waltz Diamonds and her decision to move beyond Hollywood’s stardust for the lucrative world of diamonds.
So I literally haven't left the computer, I mean like 15 hour days for like seven straight months," Waltz says as we start the interview.
Jasmine continues "It's been very intense because I've never done anything like this before, learning so much every day, but oh my god is it fun."
BM: So you are best known for acting and you went in a completely different direction with Waltz Diamonds, can you tell us more about that?
JW: With all of this stuff that's kind of been happening in the entertainment industry, I think so many actors and actresses are finding other avenues, you know, it's like we have no choice at this point, with the strikes and now the Los Angeles wildfires, there's always a roadblock that's kind of preventing us from excelling in this industry and then you have the complications of AI in acting and then it's just like, it's never ending.
So I had to really had to find my passion and be like, okay, what what can I do? Because living like this isn't sustainable. I can't just rely on acting and I think so many people are in that same kind of position as me.
BM: Did last year's SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood strikes influence your decision to enter the jewelry and diamond industry?
JW: Yeah, 100%, the seed was planted during Covid. You know, that was kind of the moment when I was like, something has to change. I'm going to need to do something online. I saw a huge market there, and I have a following. I've never monetized off of that, so why not use all of my resources and make a living? When I was at my mom's house during the pandemic, I looked through old books from when I was young, and I found that I wrote, "I want to be a jeweler" for career day in middle school.
From a very young age, being a jeweler really sparked my interest. I also had a note that I wanted to be a movie critic. It's so funny; I thought, 'Oh, I get to watch movies, say if I like them, and get paid. Okay, that sounds like a great career.' I love that.
BM: Did you go through any background training to be a gemologist? Or how did you actually get into the business of diamonds?
JW: I had this idea that I was going to do it; I just didn't know exactly how. I wanted to frame it around eco-friendly living because so many diamonds are not ethically sourced 100% of the time.
A lot of jewelry in fast fashion is mass-produced, especially in lab-grown. Eco-living is important to me, so I try to do my best to reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible.
A friend of mine owns a lab-grown diamond company and asked me to be an ambassador because we share the same values and principles, and I've always wanted to pursue this online.
It's hard in this business to get manufacturers on your team, especially when you're no one and you have nothing. Once I had that connection, my mind just kind of went in all these different directions and I honestly just put myself through crash courses in gemstones and diamonds. I sat and learned for about six straight months about the industry.
I'd say 95% of lab diamonds are HPHT diamonds. Which is a high pressure, high temperature process. It's mass produced and these companies are using machines, they're not handcrafting the diamonds.
There's a lot of waste that's going along with it and lot of the manufacturers are in China or India, they're not doing it in a sustainable way at all.
So we found Diamond Foundry's factory in San Francisco that uses renewable energy sources and offers the highest purity grade possible. It's the only certified Carbon neutral facility as well.
BM: So all of your diamonds are produced in the United States?
JW: Yeah, U. S. made and they're all handcrafted so it's not made in a machine like if you look at these like big companies. They're just trying to push it out mass produced diamonds and they're pretty much dominating the industry of lab grown diamonds right now.
All my packaging is also eco friendly. I've been going to my jeweler my whole life, and all I've ever done is buy, sell, trade. I've always loved vintage jewelry. If I wanted a trendy Van Cleef or something, why am I going to go spend top dollar for it when I can take my other necklace that I got last year that was trendy and go trade it for a name brand.
Jewelry at the end of the day isn't like clothing, right? Like wears and tears, you know, it will last if it's good quality. Because me and my jeweler are very close, he's like, well, I don't have an Instagram, I don't have this and that, why don't you help me? So I did and it stayed in my ethos because there's nothing more sustainable in the world than something pre-owned.
So I have the pre-loved collection and then I have the wild collection, which are all eco friendly. I've had a lot of people tell me that this (Waltz Diamonds) isn't going to work, mixing new and old, because of marketing, and that they're two totally different things.
That kind of backlash only makes me want to do it more. I know that this is a niche market, and it's just the way I'm going to do it. That's what my heart tells me to do with this brand, and I'm really passionate about it. Like, who doesn't want to have the option, you know? Really cool pre-owned pieces or lab-grown statement pieces, and then some people want their basics, and others want all the bling. I think it's a good mix, but we'll see how it goes. It's all kind of trial and error from here. We'll see what hits and we'll see what misses and kind of work around it and go from there.
BM: Did you actually design the pieces on your own or did you work with another jewelry designer and collaborate?
JW: For the lab grown? Yes. Yeah, I designed them. My collection includes your basics at a price point under a thousand dollars. I'll be adding more to that collection in the coming weeks.
The new pieces will be made with solid gold and real diamonds. Little huggie hoops and things like that. Some of them will be made to order, so people get to craft the design and the piece with me.
With all the theft in Los Angeles, people don't want to really wear their natural stones out, and if you go travel to somewhere and it's not as safe as here or something, you don't want to bring your natural stones, but you still want to wear your jewelry, so we can replicate designs and jewelry for you.
It was important to start with the staples of what every women wants to wear everyday and it just kind of makes you feel good. You know, to add an element of sophistication to their vibe.
For me, I wear the same pieces of jewelry every day. I don't take off my earrings, necklaces, or bracelets. My rings, they pop off, but those little pieces are important. Then there are also pieces that you wear just for an evening, a night out, things like that.
BM: So are lab grown diamonds the same as cubic zirconia or moissanite?
JW: I don't sell either of those, so I don't really know.
BM: Oh, okay, so none of those are incorporated into your jewelry. It's only man made diamonds?
JW: Yes, that's it. I don't sell any of the other type of diamonds. The lab diamonds are chemically, physically, and visually the exact same as a natural diamond. They're both made of pure carbon. The only difference is that natural diamonds are mined from deep in the earth. It's a super costly process, and it also has serious environmental and ethical problems. Lab-grown diamonds are created above the ground. They're just made with technology that replicates the exact conditions of a natural diamond, but you don't have ethical concerns, carbon footprint, and all of those issues, it's just the way they're cooked. Lab made diamonds are completely different than cubic zirconia or moissanite.
When people tell me they don't want to use fake diamonds, I'm like, okay, so if there's a child, and the child is born an IVF, is that a fake human? No, it's just that you make that child a different way. It's like you're helped out by the fertility lab, but it's still a human, just made a little bit differently.
There's a ton of analogies I can kind of come up with like that, but that's kind of what it is. You know, it's like, they're not fake diamonds and they can be essentially flawless and the highest quality you're going to get.
BM: So you said that you're working on more of the collection. When do you think it will be ready and what does it revolve around?
JW: Hopefully within the next like six months. We'll add two to three rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings. I'd say more diamonds to keep it cost effective for everyone. The more diamonds you use, the more affordable. That's because gold is actually more expensive to work with. If you wrap a ton of gold in something, the cost goes up so we're keeping it very sparkle heavy. It's going to be butterflies and wildlife which are very trendy at the moment, you know, girly things.
BM: Who would you say is your inspiration for jewelry? You've mentioned Van Cleef a few times.
JW: I would say, Graff is my absolute favorite of all time. I love Graff, and Tiffany. Tiffany's because they always integrate young, fresh, and hip styles. I think Pharrell is doing a collab with them right now. They find a way to kind of always reinvent themselves. And I really like that, being that a lot of brands are quite stuffy.
BM: What's your favorite gemstone? Is it the diamond or is it another one?
JW: Oh, diamonds and emeralds. I love emeralds so much, they are my favorite. I love them and use them a lot in my collection. I'm like green, green, green, green.
I must keep in mind that while some people prefer rubies, others are fond of sapphires. Therefore, I need to distinguish between the two, as my preferences aren't universal, but I adore emeralds. They're incredibly beautiful.
BM: What is your favorite gemstone cut?
JW: Honestly, probably an emerald as well.
BM: What's your dream jewelry collaboration look like? If you had the chance to collaborate with a high-profile designer or celebrity friend, who would that be?
JW: Can I say Elizabeth Taylor even though she's not alive?
BM: You could.
JW: Ok, it would be a total toss-up between Drew Barrymore and Emma Watson. Both have been vocal advocates for sustainability, using their platforms to inspire real change. Their commitment to ethical and eco-friendly living is aligned with my brand. Also, they’re both actresses.
Jasmine Waltz's journey from Hollywood to sustainable jewelry is inspiring. Shop all things Waltz Diamonds here.
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