The Fascinating world of Spinel gems

Spinel  is known as the great imposter because has often confused with Rubies and Sapphires.  "The Black Prince Ruby"  in the English Crown Jewels is a perfect example of a Spinel mistaken for a Ruby. 

The Black Prince Ruby

Is actually a 170 carat un-cut Spinel gem.  Those who have seen it in person say it glows from with in. In fact fine red Spinels actually fluoresce, or glow, in natural light.

The Timur Ruby
Is actually a HUGE un-cut Spinel weighing almost 361 carats, or more than 70 grams. It is inscribed with the names of six of its former owners.  It is the second largest known Spinel

Imperial Russian Crown

Contains the largest know Spinel at 398.72-carats. The Great Imperial Crown was made by a skilled court jeweller Jeremia Posier for the Empress Catherine II the Great's Coronation in 1762.

Once you have seen a fine red Spinel, you will easily understand why ancient royalty loved them as much as Rubies. Both top quality Nobel Red Spinels and Rubies have superb pure red colors, and they actually fluoresce, or glow, in natural light. It is understandable why these were easily confused during the early history of gems when people classified gems only by their colors. They called all blue gems sapphires, all green gems emeralds, and all red gems rubies. Spinels were called "Balas rubies," after a region in northern India known as Balascia, where they were first reportedly mined.

Nobel Red Spinel

It was not until 1783 when Rome de Lisle was the first scientist to distinguish clearly the differences between true Ruby and true Spinel.

While the mineral spinel may be used as a gem in any colors in which it occurs, the only blue and black are the highly prized colors after red. Blue spinel resembles the sapphire in color, although it is somewhat paler, with the exception of Cobalt Blue Spinel. Blue Spinel comes chiefly from Ceylon and Burma, where it is found with the ruby spinel. The black spinel is known as Ceylonite and also comes from Ceylon.

Cobalt Blue Spinel

Only found in Sri Lanka, Spinels saturated by Cobalt are a spectacular color of blue.  These are rare and highly sought after by Gem Collectors. 

Spinel, is one of the hardest minerals and is a favorite of jewelers and collectors because of its brilliance, hardness and color variety Spinel is a durable gemstone that is perfect for all jewelry uses.

Spinel comes in a wide variety of colors.   Red, mauve, blue, hot pink, flame orange, brown, lilac, purple, violet, greenish, wine red, steel gray, slate, indigo, rose brown, and black.

In addition to Red and Blue, Pink Spinel is becoming increasingly popular.

What to look for when shopping for Spinel.

1. Clarity
   Spinel is often cleaner than ruby. However, the very finest reds are so rare that some clarity defect is almost always present (usually fractures). Included crystals are quite common in spinel.
2. Color
   For red spinel, the finest colors tend to be similar to ruby, i.e. a rich, intense red similar to that of a red traffic signal. However, spinel tends to be a bit more of a brick red than ruby (which is slightly more purplish). Prices decline as the color diminishes into either light pinks or "Garnet" reds.
   Orange Spinels (also known as 'flame' Spinels) can also be magnificent. Look for stones that are a rich orange without too many blackish overtones. When searching for pinks, search out electric or neon colors.
3. Cut
   Spinel is generally cut into Cushion cut, Oval and Round to show off its brilliance, but can be found in other cuts as well.
4. Prices
   While Red Spinels command the top prices they has always resided in the shadow of Rubies, as a result that prices are just a fraction of what the equivalent ruby would cost. Prices of intense cobalt-blue Spinels can rival, or even exceed, those for the finest Red Spinel.  The main thing holding back greater recognition for spinel is its rarity.
5. Size
   While faceted Spinels of 100 carats or greater have been found in the past, top red or blue stones in sizes above two carats are now very rare. Fancy color Spinels in sizes up to 5 carats or more are generally available and much more affordable.

Sources
The Best: Red pink and orange Spinels originate from the rich gem gravels of Burma's Mogok Stone Tract.
The Best: Blue and violet spinels are found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
Good:  Vietnam, the Pamir mountains of Tajikistan, Tanzania and Madagascar. Black spinel is mined in Thailand at Bo Ploi, Kanchanaburi.
Fair:  Sri Lanka stones; they are pastel in color or red-black. The stones are often pale in color and very inexpensive.

Caution
Synthetic spinel has been produced by the Verneuil process since about 1909. It is made in a variety of colors, some of which are not found in nature. Spinel has also been grown in Russia by the flux process in red and cobalt-blue colors.

Synthetic Spinels are often used in birthstone rings and class rings to imitate natural stones. Because of this many people think "synthetic" when they hear the name "Spinel."

Mythology
In the middle ages  it was believed that if you touched with this gem the four corners of a house, orchard, or vineyard, they would be protected from lightning.

The name "Spinel" is derived from the Greek word for "spark", in reference to the fiery red color of spinels often used for gems.

Healing Properties
It helps us set our egos aside and become devoted to another person. Like all fiery red stones it encourages great passion. And it is have been traditionally used to provide longevity. Spinel is a durable gemstone that is perfect for all jewelry uses. Increases physical vitality, refills spent energy, helps exhaustion.

Physical Properties.

• Color: is red, green, blue, purple, brown, and black.
• Cleavage: None
• Fracture: is conchoidal.
• Hardness: is 7.5-8.0
• Specific Gravity: is 3.6-4.0
• Index of Refraction: is approximately 1.71 - 1.76
• Source Localities: Burma, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Afghanistan.

Spinel Crystal