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.

We have gradually evolved into several businesses.  As various search engines required special constructions and the use of certain words to receive high rankings on their searches we resisted.  Our business did well prior to their dominations and as we aged we did not see the need or the value in the expenditures required to meet their requirements.

D&J Rare Gems is now three businesses.  D&J Rare Gems which continues to offer fine and rare gems from around the world, the Donna and John Rhoads Scholarship Fund which offers substantial scholarships each year to a graduating senior from Salida High School as well as donating to various local organization, and Donna’s specialty, Fashion Physician, where she does alterations, repairs, and customer work on apparel.  Her work has become so popular in an area that lacks talented seamstresses that do anything from basic repairs and alterations to custom work on prom and wedding dresses

 

 


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 2026  

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

 

November 22nd,23rd, and 24th 2024
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.