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Welcome to D & J Rare Gems!  Operated by Donna and John Rhoads since 1989.  John has been custom faceting gems since 1989 and has won several Cutting Edge Awards recognizing his talent.  We hope you will take some time to look over our website and let us know if you find any gems of interest to you listed in the various pages.


John and Donna Rhoads 


John with Redmond after a day of digging

 
Donna digging at the Iron Maiden

 
John sorting a day’s finds.


Amethyst, 16.70 carats Jackson Crossroads, Georgia

 


Grandite Garnet, 3.99 carats, Mali


Opal, 23.01 carats, Ethiopia


Morganite, 58.24 carats 2002 Cutting Edge 3rd Place,
Brazil


Beryl, 39.67 carats 2008 Cutting Edge Honorable Mention,
Africa

 

Coming Shows

September 23rd and 24th 2023  

Grand Junction Gem and Mineral Show
Grand County Fairgrounds
Grand Junction, Colorado

 

November 17th,18th, and19th 2023
Denver Area Mineral Dealers Show
Jefferson County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall
Golden, Colorado

 

 

 

Please visit our other website at www.gemaholics.com for additional gems, jewelry, rough, specimens, and related items.  Also, follow us on Instagram!

About Us

 

D&J Rare Gems was founded by Donna and John Rhoads in 1985 as a source for rare gems for the gemologist and collector. Initially a mail order company for rare gems, D&J Rare Gems expanded into fine gems in 1988. Lapidary services were added in 1989, providing well cut fine and rare gems to the industry. In 1990 we opened our retail jewelry store in Salida, Colorado offering fine jewelry, wholesale gemstones, and mineral and crystals to the public as well as gemstone cutting and repair.

 

We moved to 112 F Street in Salida in June of 1992. Full casting capabilities were added in February 1996 making us one of the most complete service jewelry and gem store anywhere.

During July of 1999 the business was split into two parts with John and Donna Rhoads taking over sole control of the newsletter, mail order, internet and show sectors of the business.

During October of 2005, John Rhoads attended the extension courses required for his Graduate Gemologist diploma through the Gemological Institute of America. He is now a G.G. as the result of his success in completing these courses.

If you are planning to come to Salida and would like to purchase gemstones or visit, please, call in advance and make an appointment as we no longer maintain a public showroom. We still would be glad to show you what is new in the gem world and give you a chance to view and purchase gems in a relaxed and uninterupted environment.

Over the years we have offered the following gems:

Achroite, actinolite, afghanite, andesine, adularia, agate, albite, alexandrite, allanite, almandite, amazonite, amber, amblygonite, amethyst, ammolite, analcime, anatase, andalusite, andesiten, andradite, anglesite, anorthite, apache tears, apatite, apophyllite, aquamarine, aragonite, augelite, aventurine, axinite, azurite, barite, benitoite, beryl, beryllonite, bixbite, blende, bloodstone, boleite, boracite, bornite, brazilianite, bronzite, brookite, brucite, bustamite, bytownite, cairngorm, calcite, cassiterite, catapleite, celestite, cerussite, ceylonite, chabazite, chalcedony, charoite, chert, chiastolite, childrenite, chklavite, chrysoberyl, chrysocolla, chrysoprase, cinnabar, citrine, cleavelandite, clinohumite, clinozoisite, colemanite, copal, coral, cordierite, corundum, covellite, creedite, crocoite, cryolite, cuprite, danburite, datolite, demantoid, diamond, diaspore, dinosaur bone, diopside, dioptase, dolomite, dravite, dumoriterite, ekanite, elbaite, emerald, enstatite, eosphorite, epidote, ettringite, euclase, eudialyte, fayalite, feldspar, fibrolite, fire agate, flint, fluorite, forsterite, friedelite, gahnite, garnet, goshenite, grandidierite, grossular, gypsum, hackmanite, hambergite, hauynite, heliodor, hematite, hemimorphite, herderite, hessonite, hiddenite, hodgkinsonite, hornblende, howlite, huebnerite, hi\umite, hyalite, hydrogrossular, hypersthene, idocrase, indicolite, iolite, jade, jadeite, jasper, jeremejevite, jet, kaliborite, kammererite, kornerupine, kunzite, kyanite, labradorite, lapis lazuli, larimar, lazulite, lazurite, legrandite, lepidolite, leucite, liddicoatite, linarite, londonite, ludlamite, magnesite, malachite, manganotantalite, marble, marcasite, melanite, microcline, microlite, milarite, mimetite, mohawkite, monazite, montebrasite, moonstone, morganite, moss agate, musgravite, natrolite, nephrite, neptunite, obsidian, oligoclase, olivine, onyx, opal, orthoclase, pargasite, parisite, pearl, pectolite, peridot, petalite, petrified wood, pezzottaite, phenacite, phosphophyllite, phosgenite, phosphophyllite, plagioclase, pollucite, powellite, prase, prehnite, prousite, pyrargyrite, pyrite, pyrope, pyroxmangite, quartz, rhodizite, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, rhodolite, rubellite, ruby, rutile, sanidine, sapphire, sapphirine, sard, scapolite, scheelite, schorl, scolecite, selenite, sellaite, serandite, serpentine, shattuckite, shortite, siderite, sillimanite, simpsonite, sinhalite, smithsonite, soapstone, sodalite, spessartite, sphalerite, sphene, spinel, spodumene, staurolite, stibiotantalite, strontianite, sugilite, sunstone, taafeite, tanzanite, tektite, thaumasite, thomsonite, titanite, topaz, topazolite, tourmaline, trapiche emerald, travertine, tremolite, triphane, triphylite, tsavorite, tugtupite, turquoise, ulexite, unakite, uvarovite, uvite, vanadinite, variscite, vesuvianite, villiaumite, viridine, vivianite, wardite, wavellite, willemite, williamsite, witherite, wulfenite, wurtzite, xenotime, zincite, zircon, and zoisite.