Spinel

Introduction
 Spinel was once mistaken for ruby, but it’s no imposter, rather a “Master of Disguise”. One of the Gem Kingdom’s best-kept secrets, Spinel is treasured for its eternal brilliance and spectacular colors. Whether your fascination with gems is for their beauty, rarity or history, Spinel is a superb addition to your Jewelry collection. 
 
 
Legends & Lore
 
Spinels occupy a unique place in gemstone history. Up until the 19th Century the intense coloration displayed by Noble Red Spinel lead some to mistakenly identify this gem as ruby. The source of confusion stemmed not only from color similarities, but also the close proximity of their deposits. 
 
 
Noble Red Spinel’s near-identical resemblance to ruby lead to it being a prodigious, albeit accidental feature in many of the world’s most famous gem collections, including the Vatican’s and the Crown Jewels of Russia, Iran and England.
 
 
Interestingly, both the legendary 352 Carat “Timur Ruby” and the 170 Carat “Black Prince’s Ruby” that feature in British Imperial State Crowns proved to be Noble Red Spinels!
 
 
Spinel was first recognized as a separate gem species in 1587. Spinel’s name is either derived from the Latin word for thorn “Spina”, as a result of its characteristic octahedral crystals having pointed ends, or from the Greek word for spark “Spintharis”, in reference to the gem’s bright red hues. 
 
 
Spinel’s occur in many colors: reds, blues, pinks, oranges and other “Fancy colors”. Apart from specific colors, Spinel’s names include:
 
 



Almandine Spinel
Violet variety of Spinel. 
 
Balas Ruby
The common historical name for Spinel, which referred to their country of origin, either Badakshan in Tajikistan or the Balaksh region of Sri Lanka. 
 
Cobalt Spinel
Resembling fine Sapphires, these exceptional Blue Spinels from Sri Lanka are colored by cobalt. 
 
Flame Spinel
Orange-red variety of Spinel.
 
Gahnite or Gahnospinel 
Named after Swedish chemist L. G. Gahn, it is the rare greenish or bluish, zinc-rich variety of Spinel.
 
Noble Red Spinel
Ruby-red variety of Spinel. 
 
Rubicelle
Yellow to orange variety of Spinel.
 

 
To illustrate Spinel’s hardness, this story recounts how a Spinel saved the life of a King! In 1415 at the “Battle of Agincourt” the English King, Henry V wore a helmet garnished with jewels including the “Black Prince's Ruby”. During the battle, the French commander, the Duke Of Alenon, struck Henry's head a mighty blow with his battle-axe, nearly killing the King. Surprisingly, the force of the blow glanced off the Spinel saving his life, allowing Henry to lead his troops to what many thought would be an impossible victory.
 
 
Because of its mistaken identity, Spinel has few historical references. However, Spinels have a bizarre association with sorcerers and alchemists. 
 
 
Spinels were used by practitioners of the “Dark Arts” to summon demons, and also used as amulets to protect them from fire.
 
 
But one tale describes how Spinels could be used to work against their masters. Those thought to possess supernatural powers were found guilty, if they began to shake when approached with a Spinel wrapped in paper! 
 
 
Just The Facts
 
The reality behind Noble Red Spinel's ruby-like appearance is due to it being found in proximity to corundum, the base mineral of rubies and sapphires, and chromium, the Midas element responsible for giving both Noble Red Spinels and rubies their deep red color.
 
 
Today, Spinels can be easily identified by their refractivity. Since Noble Red Spinels are singly refractive and rubies doubly refractive, the primary color in Noble Red Spinels appears purer and more intense than the reds seen in many rubies. 
 
 
Spinels are mined from alluvial deposits or directly from large granular granite or other igneous host rocks. Spinels come from a handful of sources including Madagascar, the Mahenge region of South Central Tanzania, Tundura on Tanzania’s remote South East and Central Vietnam’s Luc Yen region. Perfect octahedral crystals are sometimes set into Jewelry in their original uncut octahedral states. The Burmese refer to these gems as "nat thwe", meaning "spirit polished." Sometimes "nat thwe" Spinels will receive a very light polishing.
 
 
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 Noble Red Spinel. Occasionally, color change varieties are found, turning color from a light gray blue in daylight to a light purple under candlelight.
 
 
Did you know that while Spinels are rarer than rubies they are also more affordable? In the Gem Kingdom, “rare” can be both a blessing and a curse, as this affects market prices and availability. This is unfortunate, for Spinels are one of nature’s most beautiful treasures. 
 
 
Color intensity is the most important consideration. Spinels are intensely colored without any secondary tones. Spinel's high refractive index makes cutting very important - the brilliance of a well-cut Spinel is breathtaking. 
 
 
Spinels are durable gems that are perfect for all Jewelry. They are most often faceted in oval, round or cushion shapes.