THE GREAT CROWN JEWELS OF ENGLAND
Have you ever seen the Crown Jewels of England? When you do, you will be impressed by a stunning red stone right in the center of the crown. It is as big as a chicken's egg and dazzles your eye. (See picture) This is BLACK PRINCE'S RUBY.
Some years ago a gem enthusiast from Sri Lanka went to view the famous crown jewels. He looked at the brilliant Black Prince's Ruby. "That's not a ruby. It's a spinel!" he exclaimed. The authorities there took up the challenge and got the gemstone tested; for it had never been done before.
Lo and behold, it turned out to be a red spinel masquerading as a ruby.
Nevertheless, it has retained it's original name. This goes to show that a truly red ruby resembles a ruby, which is the most expensive stone in the world (except in very small sizes).
Click here to read more about this grand gemstone.
Spinels are found in a few places on earth, and I am proud to say that my previous country of Sri Lanka is one of them. However, supplies are dwindling there and you will do well to collect some from there while supplies last. Search for red spinel and that in large sizes. Wearing it on your jewelry will give you fine status among your friends.
SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE SPINEL GEMSTONE
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The spinel is one of the most beautiful and attractive of gemstones. It comes in many different colors and I once made a necklace of various colors for a friend. See a blue Spinel that looks exactly like a blue sapphire in the picture.
It was not too expensive either. Just for five or six hundred dollars you can get a necklace one done for you of multicolored spinels interspersed with diamonds.
They are quite tough and hard gemstones(hardness #8) and can last for hundreds of years with minimum care. They can be passed on from generation to generation. The availability is becoming limited and so the value is increasing, so it is best that you look into these lovely stones early.
See your gemologist about it for advice or contact me at (713) 723 1081
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SEE WHAT A RED SPINEL RING LOOKS LIKE
This looks a thousand dollar finger ring. You can make similar rings of different colors for a much lesser price and amaze your friends!
PROPERTIES AND OCCURRANCE OF SPINELS OF THE WORLD
The inset is a green-blue spinel.Spinels have been found in alluvial soil not too deep in the earth. Red and pink stones used to be common, but not now. The usual colors are various shades of red, blue, green, yellow, brown or black. White is rarely seen.
Red spinels have been called Balas rubies, a name taken from a place in Burma where. You get supplies from the gemstone-bearing gravel of Sri Lanka and in Mogok in Burma. Recently gem quality spinels were also found in Vietnam, Tanzania, Kenya, and Madagascar. Spinels and rubies are often found together as rounded grains in alluvial deposits.
Besides having a central place in the crown of the Queen of England, It was seen in the crowns of other monarchs pretending to be rubies. The Samarian Spinel is the largest known Spinel in the world, weighing 500 carats (100 g).
Possessing a hardness of 8, spinels are harder than garnets. It has a common crystal form like that of a diamond (isometric System). Its Specific Gravity is between 3.5 and 4.1 and has a vitreous and sometimes dull luster
EQUIP YOURSELF WITH INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER GREAT GEMSTONES
FLOWERS OR BRICKBATS
Please write your comments or suggestions here. I will receive flowers or rotten eggs with the same smile of thanks, I promise.
Questions are welcome too or ask for a free consultation.
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WeHelp
Jun 3, 2009 @ 10:37 pm | delete
- The blue Spinel looks so beautiful!
I would like to get one like that!
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by Wesley_Paul
I am Wesley Paul from Houston, Texas. Having been a Headmaster at Trinity College, Sri Lanka, my wife and I are sending down our roots in this great l... more »
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