Author Archives: mrahm

About mrahm

Michelle holds a Graduate Gemologist Diploma, Graduate Diamonds Diploma and Graduate Colored Stones Diploma through the Gemological Institute of America's distance education program. Michelle currently serves as President of the Mile High GIA Alumni Association. She also serves on the board of the Rocky Mountain Jeweler's Association and is a member of the American Gem Trade Association.

Glass Filled Rubies: Buyer Beware

Posted on February 29, 2012 by mrahm

The jewelry trade is all abuzz about the influx of lead glass filled rubies into the US marketplace. Some estimate that the majority of stones being sold as natural rubies on the market today are now glass filled. Yikes! The … Continue reading →

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Turquoise: A Byproduct of Copper Mining

Posted on February 16, 2012 by mrahm

In my previous post, I talked about my educational day of fun with friends in Bisbee, Arizona. We toured the Copper Queen Mine then drove down the road for a look at the open-pit copper mine known as the Lavender … Continue reading →

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Arizona Copper Mining

Posted on February 15, 2012 by mrahm

While at the Tucson gem show, my friends and I took a detour to Bisbee, Arizona known for its famous copper and turquoise mines. The day was fun yet educational. First, we took the commercial tour of the now-closed famous … Continue reading →

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Now That’s Some Pair of Bookends!

Posted on February 11, 2012 by mrahm

Imagine these twins decorating your home…I had to look twice when I saw these monstrous amethyst geodes at the Tucson gem and mineral show. I’ve never seen amethyst geodes so large before. Coincidentally, one year ago today I posted another … Continue reading →

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Rare and Unique, Ametrine

Posted on February 10, 2012 by mrahm

I just returned from the Tucson gem show. While I didn’t post much during my visit, I still took a lot of photos of amazing gemstones and mineral specimens to share with you. In my previous post, I talked about … Continue reading →

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Amethyst Sister to Citrine

Posted on February 2, 2012 by mrahm

Did you know amethyst and citrine belong to the same gem species? Both amethyst and citrine are members of the mineral species, Quartz. The color is the most obvious difference between amethyst and citrine. Amethyst ranges in color from strong … Continue reading →

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One Amazing Peridot

Posted on January 31, 2012 by mrahm

This gorgeous green stone is an amazing peridot mined in Pakistan. It weighs a whopping 100.15 carats and has a price tag of $25,037. Peridot with exceptional quality and color began to emerge from the mountains of Pakistan in the … Continue reading →

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$308,000.00 and it’s not even a diamond?!

Posted on January 21, 2012 by mrahm

This gorgeous green stone is smaller than a quarter, yet it’s worth more than a house…and it’s not even a diamond! This breathtaking stone is the world’s finest, largest Demantoid garnet from Russia with amazing intense green color and high … Continue reading →

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A 25 Pound Emerald?

Posted on January 20, 2012 by mrahm

This story caught my eye this morning so I thought I’d share it with you. A 25 pound faceted green beryl has surfaced and is going up for auction soon. It is being called the largest faceted emerald in the … Continue reading →

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What’s The Center Stone?

Posted on January 18, 2012 by mrahm

This interesting Harry Winston diamond brooch actually holds a 44.03 carat polished spherical diamond in the center. Although the diamond is not gem quality, the special polished spherical shape makes this diamond jewelry piece unique. While diamonds normally have adamantine … Continue reading →

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This Amazing Aquamarine…

Posted on January 10, 2012 by mrahm

I hope everyone had a blessed holiday season. I wish you prosperity and good health for the new year. I mentioned in a previous post that I have the privilege of touring the gem and mineral collection at the Smithsonian … Continue reading →

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Tangerine Tango: The Fashion Color For 2012

Posted on December 8, 2011 by mrahm

Sarah Bernard of The Thread just released the new fashion color for 2012: Tangerine Tango. While she doesn’t mention any gemstone jewelry that might offer a great way for you to accessorize in style, consider stylish jewelry made with padparadschas … Continue reading →

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A planet made of diamond?

Posted on December 7, 2011 by mrahm

Wow, how exciting. Scientists have discovered a new planet made of diamond, sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Apparently because the new planet is so dense and consists largely of carbon, scientists figure the carbon must be in … Continue reading →

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Affordable Diamond Alternatives

Posted on December 1, 2011 by mrahm

So many of our customers are either green-minded, budget conscious or conflict-conscious and no amount of pursuasion will change their minds…they simply do not want a diamond as the center stone in their engagement ring. For this reason, we’ve prepared … Continue reading →

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Crystal Shapes

Posted on November 30, 2011 by mrahm

Sometimes faceted gemstones from different species can look so similar to each other that it’s difficult to tell them apart. It’s much easier to tell gemstone species apart in the crystal form because different species form in different crystal systems…and … Continue reading →

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Repairing an 850 Carat Imperial Topaz

Posted on November 28, 2011 by mrahm

Because November is topaz month, I thought this would be a fun project to share with you. I’ve prepared the video below showing the step-by-step process of repairing a chipped table facet on a large 850 carat Imperial Topaz. My … Continue reading →

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Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 24, 2011 by mrahm

As I sit here smelling the turkey in the oven and imagining the feast that awaits us in a couple of hours, I think of how grateful I am for so many things in my life. I have been blessed … Continue reading →

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Citrine and Topaz Durability

Posted on November 20, 2011 by mrahm

I mentioned previously that golden topaz was harder than citrine and more costly. But there is more to a gemstone’s durability than just hardness, which is a gemstone’s ability to resist scratches. Toughness, which refers to a gemstones resistance to … Continue reading →

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Citrine Sister To Amethyst

Posted on November 15, 2011 by mrahm

Did you know citrine and amethyst belong to the same gem species? Both citrine and amethyst are members of the mineral species, Quartz. The color is the most obvious difference between citrine and amethyst. Citrine ranges in color from yellow … Continue reading →

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National Gem Collection

Posted on November 14, 2011 by mrahm

I had a great time touring the National Gem & Mineral Collection at the Smithsonian today with the Curator, Jeff Post. Starting January 1st, I’ll take a break from birthstone tidbits and share with you some fascinating info about various … Continue reading →

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