Spinel is a symbol of power, victory and new hope. Spinel is also a birthstone for August together with Peridot and Sardonyx.

 

Spinel is becoming high in demand by high-end jewelers. Spinels have several hues including red, pink, lilac and blue which are highly sought after in the market.

 

The most famous 170cts Red Spinel called “Black Prince’s Ruby” given by the Spanish king to the Black Prince of England as a payment for a battle victory. It was set in front of the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom.

 

Photo by Wikipedia. Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom.

   

FORMATION

 

Spinel is a mineral with Mohs Hardness of 8 and a Toughness of Good.

 

QUALITY FACTORS

 

Fine large spinel crystals were mined in central and southeast Asia.

 

Fine Quality Red Spinel from Burma.

   

Color

 

Spinel occurs in a range of hues from orange to intense red, vibrant pink and all shades of purple, blue and violet through bluish green. Intense reds and pinks are caused by traces of chromium. Oranges and purples contain a mixture of iron and chromium. Violet to Blue Spinel can be colored by iron, whereas rare vibrant blues owe their saturated color to cobalt.

 

Clarity

 

Lighter colors of Spinel are expected to be relatively free of inclusions. Saturated Red and Blue Spinels are rare and sometimes included. However, some Spinels may have beautiful inclusions which reflect the gem’s octahedral crystal growth.

 

Certified 2.09cts Pink Spinel

 

Carat

 

Spinels come in small carat like 1 to 2 carat size to bigger carat sizes. Larger spinel sizes rise considerably in per-carat price. Prices rise sharply for fine red, pink, and blue gems above five carats.

 

Cut

 

Spinel is cut in a variety of shapes and cutting styles. Ovals and cushion shapes are popular cuts of Spinel.

 

Because of the scarcity of spinel on the market, most fine-quality rough is cut in non-standard sizes to save weight, instead of in standard industry sizes. The standard-cut, or calibrated, stones that are available tend to be mixed-cut ovals suitable for center stones in rings. Commercial qualities are more commonly cut to standard sizes for jewelry.

 

TREATMENT

 

Some Spinels are heat treated to improve clarity but it is a stable treatment. In rare cases, Spinels can also be fracture filled. Fracture filled is done in gems to improve its clarity.

 

CARE AND CLEANING

 

Ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaners are usually safe for Spinels but certain inclusions could cause a potential problem. Warm, soapy water (using mild cleaning liquid) is the safest method for cleaning Spinel.

 

Source: GIA