Gems TV

SPINEL

Spinel was once mistaken for Ruby and Sapphire, but it’s no impostor, rather a “master of disguise”. One of the gem kingdom’s best kept secrets, Spinel is treasured for its eternal brilliance and spectacular colours. Whether your fascination with gems is for their beauty, rarity or history, Spinel is a superb addition to your jewellery collection.

Spinel’s name is derived either 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.

Legends and lore

Due to its mistaken identity, Spinel has few historical references.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. 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!

Spinels occupy a unique place in gemstone history. Despite being recognised as a separate gem species in 1587, up until the 19th century the intense coloration displayed by Noble Red Spinel led some to mistakenly identify this gem as Ruby. The source of confusion stemmed not only from colour similarities but also the close proximity of their deposits. It was not until 1783 that Rome de Lisle became the first scientist to clearly distinguish differences between Ruby and Noble Red Spinel.

Noble Red Spinel’s near identical resemblance to Ruby results in 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”, which feature in the British Imperial State Crown proved to be Noble Red Spinel!

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 Alencon, 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 and allowed Henry to lead his troops to what many thought would be an impossible victory.

Just the facts

The reality behind Noble Red Spinel’s Ruby-like appearance is its proximity to Corundum deposits, the base mineral of Rubies and Sapphires, and chromium, the midas element responsible for giving both Noble Red Spinels and Rubies their deep red colour.

Today, Spinels can be easily identified by their refractivity. Since Noble Red Spinels are singly refractive and Rubies doubly refractive, the primary colour in Noble Red Spinels appears purer and more intense than the reds seen in many Rubies.

Spinel occurs in many colours including red, blue, pink, orange and a plethora of other fancy colours. Apart from colour prefixes, some of Spinel’s variety names include:

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, Tunduru in Tanzania’s remote southeast and central Vietnam’s Luc Yen region. While most gemstone aficionados know Burma to be the classic and most familiar source for fine Noble Red Spinel, new discoveries in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region are shifting paradigms. Tanzanian Noble Red Spinel is increasingly acclaimed for its bright red hues and a brilliance and lustre that defy verbal description.

Perfect octahedral crystals are sometimes set into jewellery in their original uncut octahedral shapes. 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 colours. Almost all colours are used in jewellery, but the most valuable and popular colour is Noble Red Spinel. Occasionally, colour change varieties are found, turning colour from a light grey blue in daylight to a light purple under candlelight.

Even though they are more affordable, did you know that Spinels are rarer than Rubies? In the gem kingdom, “rare” can be both a blessing and a curse, as this affects market prices and availability. This is unfortunate for the Spinel miner, but great news for everyone else as they are one of nature’s most beautiful treasures.

Spinels are intensely coloured durable gemstones perfect for all jewellery. Spinel’s high refractive index makes cutting very important, as the quality of the cut will affect its brilliance. Naturally, all Spinels sold at GemsTV are faceted by experienced cutters who always take each gemstone’s physical properties and individual attributes into consideration.