Emily Richardson

About Emily

Emily holds a Graduate Gemologist certification from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and has over 15 years of experience in the jewelry industry. Her passion for gemstones began during childhood visits to natural history museums, and she has since travelled to mining regions across five continents.

She founded My Birthstone and oversees all of its editorial content. Every guide on the site carries her byline.

Credentials

Qualification

Graduate Gemologist (GG)

Awarded by

Gemological Institute of America (GIA)

Role

Founder & Lead Gemologist, My Birthstone

Articles by Emily

• Black Opal: What It Is, What It's Worth, and How to Spot a Fake
• Opal Rings: A Buyer's Guide to Types, Settings, Engagement Rings and Price
• Tourmaline Meaning, Colors and Price: The October Birthstone Guide
• Mother's Ring Buyer's Guide: Which Birthstones Survive Daily Wear
• How to Clean Birthstone Jewelry Without Wrecking the Stone
• Gold Plated vs Gold Filled vs Vermeil: What Your Jewelry Is Actually Made Of
• Where to Sell Jewelry in 2026: What Buyers Actually Pay, and the Stones They Value at Zero
• Jewelry Insurance Cost in 2026: What Ring Coverage Really Costs, and the Word That Decides Every Claim
• Jewelry Appraisal Cost in 2026: What You Pay, and Why That Number Is Not What Your Ring Is Worth
• Ring Resizing Cost in 2026: What Jewellers Charge and Why the Quotes Vary So Much
• Gladiolus Flower Meaning: The Sword Lily of Strength, Honor, and Love
• Opal: Meaning, Colours, and the Bad-Luck Myth a Novel Invented
• Peridot vs Emerald: Two Green Gems With Almost Nothing in Common
• Tanzanite vs Sapphire: Two Blue Gems That Are Opposites in Almost Every Way
• Moonstone vs Opal: How to Tell Two Ghostly Gems Apart in Seconds
• Ruby vs Sapphire: Why They Are the Same Gem, and Where the Line Between Them Actually Falls
• Bloodstone: Meaning, Colours, and the Stone the Ancients Swore Made You Invisible
• Onyx: Meaning, Colours, and the Black Stone That's Almost Always Dyed
• Diamond: Meaning, Colours, and the Two Scales That Run in Opposite Directions
• Emerald: Meaning, Colours, and the Honest Truth About May's Green Fire
• Pearl: Meaning, Colours, and the Honest Truth About June's Living Gem
• Aquamarine: Meaning, Colours, and the Honest Truth About the Sea-Blue Birthstone
• Peridot: Meaning, Colours, and the Green Gem Born in Fire and Fallen From Space
• Zircon: Meaning, Colours, and the Real Gem Cubic Zirconia Gets the Blame For
• Topaz: Meaning, Colours, and the Stone That Borrowed Its Own Name
• Tanzanite: Meaning, Colours, and the Gem Found in Only One Place on Earth
• Turquoise: Meaning, Colours, and How to Tell Real Turquoise From the Dyed Howlite Flooding the Market
• Citrine: Meaning, Colours, and the Open Secret That Most Citrine Is Heated Amethyst
• Alexandrite: Meaning, the Colour-Change Magic, and Why It Is June's Rarest Birthstone
• Spinel: Meaning, Colours, and the Gem That Fooled Kings for Centuries
• Labradorite: Meaning, Colours, and Why It Flashes Like the Northern Lights
• Moonstone Meaning, Colours, and Why It Glows: The Complete Birthstone Guide
• The Most Expensive Birthstones, Ranked From Priciest to Cheapest
• Topaz vs Citrine: Why November's Two Birthstones Get Confused (and How to Tell Them Apart)
• White Sapphire vs Diamond: An Honest Look at the Cheaper Clear Stone
• Garnet vs Ruby: How to Tell Two Red Gems Apart (and Why One Costs 100 Times More)
• Lab Grown vs Natural Diamond: The Price Crash Changed the Answer
• Moissanite vs Diamond: An Honest Comparison Nobody in the Jewellery Trade Wants You to Read
• Garnet Rings: An Honest Buyer's Guide to January's Birthstone
• Morganite Engagement Rings: An Honest Buyer's Guide to the Pink Beryl
• Amethyst Rings: A Buyer's Guide to Colour, Quality, Setting and Price
• Emerald Engagement Rings: A Complete Buyer's Guide to Colour, Cut, Care and Price
• Sapphire Engagement Rings: A Complete Buyer's Guide to Styles, Colour and Price
• Why Ruby Became the 'King of Gems': The History, Meaning and Myths Behind July's Birthstone
• June's Two Birthstones: Why You Get Pearl and Alexandrite (and How to Choose Between Them)
• 3 Stone Birthstone Necklace: The Honest Buyer's Guide (2026)
• April's Diamond Myths: Invincibility, Poison, and Why Diamond Won April
• Birth Flowers and Birthstones by Month: The Complete Pairing Guide (2026)
• Birthstone Bracelet Buyer's Guide: What's Actually Worth Buying in 2026
• Birthstone Engagement Rings: A 2026 Month-by-Month Guide for Couples Skipping the Diamond
• Custom Birthstone Necklace for Mom: An Honest Buyer's Guide (2026)
• Emerald History and Lore: From Cleopatra's Mines to Medieval Truth Stones
• Lab-Grown vs Natural Birthstones: A Month-by-Month Honest Guide (2026)
• Push Present Birthstone Jewelry: A 2026 Field Guide (From Someone Who Has Bought Three)
• Birthstone Colors by Month: A Visual Guide (and How to Actually Remember Them)
• Birthstones: The Origin Story (Breastplate, Zodiac, and the Modern List)
• Talismans and Amulets: The Forgotten Origin of Gemstone Jewelry
• What Zodiac Sign Is May? Taurus Traits, Gemini Energy, and How to Celebrate
• The Curious Lore of Precious Stones: A Comprehensive Summary of George Frederick Kunz's Classic Work
• Aquamarine Engagement Rings: The Ultimate Guide to March's Birthstone for Your Proposal
• Opal Colors: The Complete Rainbow Guide to Nature's Most Colorful Gem
• Purple Crystal Names: The Ultimate Guide to Violet Gemstones
• How Valuable Is an Opal? Pricing Factors & Investment Guide
• How Are Geodes Formed? Nature's Hidden Crystal Chambers Explained
• How Does Amethyst Form? The Science Behind February's Purple Gem
• Ruby Color Chart: Understanding the Shades of July's Birthstone

Spotted an error in one of our guides? Tell us.