Its brilliant shine, its colors and tonalities has given rise to different varieties. It was confused with ruby and beautiful sapphires at ancient times; the origin of its name is unknown, although it could be spinel, referring to its sharp crystals.
Spinel is a gemstone that is located just in the same deposits of rubies and sapphires, in the mud-floods; mainly in important deposits found in Thailand, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. And those associated with corundum are present in Australia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sweden and Brazil.
In the middle Ages it was highly appreciated; man attributed enigmatic properties, using it in magic practices to replace ruby stones on the ground because both shared the same positive energetic vibrations. They claimed that this gemstone chased away melancholy.
It was also considered for a long time a carbuncle, name given to the precious stones such as ruby or garnet because it was supposed to should shine in the darkness like a burning coal.
It is a stone in a variety of colors, due to the presence of impurities in the crystals, being the most popular the spinel of deep red color, composed by iron oxide in combination with magnesium and chromium.
Its hardness is 8 on the Mohs scale, irregular fracture; shaped like a diamond cubic crystal; vitreous brightness and white stripe. And its color is so virtuous that covers the gamut from pink to red; through orange and violet; and it extends to deep blue, known as cobalt blue, and brown. There are also a variety of black spinel found in Thailand and Australia.
Moreover, this beautiful gem has everything you need for use in jewelry; mainly it uses as carving stone to be mounted on rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces; it usually reaches high prices according to its clarity and color intensity.
It is important to note that there are spinels occupying an honored place in history. The most famous is a deep red stone that adorns the crown of Catherine II of Russia, with over 400 carats; Today is part of the collection treasures of the Kremlin; then they’re followed by two magnificent spinels which are embedded like rubies in the British imperial crown: the Black Prince’s Ruby, 170 carats; and the 361-carat Timur Ruby, engraved with names and dates of the six owners who had the tiara throughout its history.
This gemstone continues captivating the imagination of humanity; its attraction remains its beauty, durability and rarity. The spinel has a tone for every taste, always linked to the vanity of each woman. What is yours?
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a beautiful piece of jewelry. I know what to ask for my next birthday present.