Spinel Gemstones

Spinel

Spinel is the magnesium aluminium member of the larger spinel group of minerals. Some of the rarest gems in the world are spinels, even if many of them were once believed to be rubies or sapphires. For example, the enormous Black Prince’s Ruby that adorns the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom is actually a spinel, after a long history: Henry V even wore it on his battle helmet! The Timur ruby, a 361-carat red spinel now owned by Queen Elizabeth, has the names of some of the Mughal emperors who previously owned it engraved on its face: an undeniable pedigree!. But in fact all natural spinel are fairly rare, and that’s why they can be difficult to find in jewelry stores. It is also, paradoxically, why the prices for spinel are still reasonable.

In Burma (now known as Myanmar), where some of the most beautiful colours are mined, spinel was recognised as a separate gem species as early as 1587. In other countries the masquerade went on for hundreds of years. Spinels were most often referred to as ‘balas rubies’, which may have referred to their colour or their country of origin.

Natural spinel is a very fine gemstone indeed, with many characteristics that make it the near-equal of ruby and sapphire. Spinel is a magnesium aluminate, typically colored by chromium and iron and, occasionally, cobalt. It is very hard (8 on the Mohs scale, compared to 9 for ruby and sapphire), and it forms as a cubic crystal like a diamond. Spinel is a durable gemstone that is perfect for all jewellery uses. It is most often faceted in oval, round, or cushion shapes and is not currently found in calibrated sizes due to its rarity.

Spinel occurs in octahedral crystals but fortunately has very poor cleavage (unlike diamond, which has perfect cleavage). Due to spinel’s very good dispersion, gem spinels can possess vivid fire, and the intensity of spinel color is in part due to the fact that spinel is one of the few singly refractive gemstones (the others being garnet and diamond).

Recently some high quality African spinel has come on the market, with some pieces in good sizes. It has found some excellent spinel from Tanzania in red, pink, violet, and blue; and occasionally in unusual colors such as orange and purple. The supply of Burmese spinel is very limited but steady, and the material is generally of very high quality.

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Spinel Gemstone

Spinel

One of the most beautiful and rarest gemstones available today is the Spinel. While you might be able to find a gemstone called Spinel at your local jewelry stone, it is probably synthetic and only loosely based on the beautiful qualities of true Spinel.

Pure spinel is white, but impurities give it a wide range of colors. Almost all colors are used in jewelry, but the most valuable and popular color is the deep red. These red gems closely resemble rubies, and the two may be difficult to distinguish. In fact, until the late 19th century, there was no distinction between ruby and red spinel, as they look identical and are found in the same localities. Nowadays, distinctions can be made through hardness and x-ray tests. Many famous old “rubies” were found to be Spinel. The enormous “ruby” that forms the centerpiece of the royal crown of England (the Black Prince’s Ruby) was determined to be spinel.

Spinel was usually associated with Rubies, due to the fact that large red Spinel were found in the same mines that Rubies were mined at. Since they had the same characteristics and practically looked the same to the naked eye, they were often believed to be Rubies. Many Spinels were worn by kings and queens throughout history and even are included on many priceless royal artifacts such as the Black Prince’s Ruby, the 170 carat red Spinel that is set in the Imperial State Crown of England and a Spinel is also part of some of the British Crown Jewels. Henry V even wore Spinel as part of a battle helmet.

Besides red, Spinel comes in a wide variety of beautiful colors including green, blues, purples, orange, pink and a very prized hot pink. Spinel is associated with many other gemstones including tourmaline and garnets. They are all made from the elements iron, chromium, zinc and magnesium, however they have differing amounts. Some of these minerals can even include nickel and aluminum. Usually these differences will create specific colors and attributes.

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