Overshadowed
for centuries by more popular gemstones, spinel is a
truly magnificent beauty just waiting to be discovered
by today’s savvy gem connoisseur. In the past,
spectacular spinels, particularly red spinels, were often
misidentified as rubies or sapphires.
From the British
Crown Jewels to the imperial crown of Catherine II of
Russia, what were thought to be magnificent rubies have
been found to actually be equally beautiful spinels.
And red isn’t the only color of spinel. You’ll
find soft pastel shades of pink and purple, fiery oranges,
and cool hues ranging from powdery gray to the most intense
blues imaginable.
Spinel has been a longtime favorite of the serious gem collector, due to its
incredible brilliance, outstanding durability and wide array of colors. Making
spinel even more attractive is its surprising affordability, often attributed
to the general public’s lack of awareness of the gemstone. For those looking
for an alternative to higher priced rubies and sapphires, spinel may be the best
choice.
Birthstone
Natural spinel holds no birthstone designation, but laboratory
grown spinel in many different colors has been commonly
used to imitate birthstones (including diamonds) in less
expensive jewelry since the early 1900s. Synthetic spinel
is rarely used to imitate natural spinel.
Origins
Myanmar is the source of some of the world’s most beautiful spinels, particularly
the magnificent pink, red and orangey red colors. Other sources for spinel include
Sri Lanka, Thailand and Tanzania.
Treatments
There are no treatments commonly used to enhance spinel.
Care
Spinel is hard and durable. It can be cleaned using an ultrasonic machine, any
commercial jewelry cleaner or plain soap and water using a soft brush. Be sure
to rinse and dry your jewelry thoroughly after cleaning.
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