Spinel is a durable gemstone that occurs naturally in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It can be mistaken for rubies and is often used as a substitute. It can be produced synthetically and is used in jewelry.
Spinel is a magnesium aluminum oxide gemstone that occurs naturally in deposits in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It is not widely known outside the gem and mineral industry, although it has famously replaced rubies and has in some cases been involved in cases of mistaken identity. The Black Prince’s Ruby in the British Crown Jewels, for example, is not actually a ruby, but a spinel. This mineral can be produced synthetically in laboratory settings.
These gems are examples of metamorphic stones that form when intense heat and pressure transform existing rock deposits. They tend to form cubic crystals and are prone to form twinning. Some are clear, but they also come in a range of red, pink, blue and green colors. Some of the most notable examples have been pink to red.
On the scale of hardness used to rate minerals, spinel measures an eight. This is one of the highest rankings on the Mohs scale, close to that used for rocks like diamond. The strength makes it an extremely durable stone, able to withstand harsher conditions than more fragile gemstones. It is also relatively rare in nature, with some of the best deposits located in Myanmar.
Historically, some spinels were passed off as rubies, sometimes accidentally. While recognized as a distinct mineral, spinel sometimes substitutes for rubies for safety reasons. With very large and precious stones, it is not uncommon to take a gem out of its setting and replace it with a less valuable ring for public displays. This allows people to showcase their jewelry without taking the risk of losing an extremely large and precious stone.
Both synthetic and natural spinel can be used in jewelry. The synthetic versions are chemically identical to natural stones and have similar structural characteristics. Stones can be washed with warm water and mild soap if they get dirty, and it’s also safe to run them through ultrasonic cleaning machines and similar devices. While spinel is sometimes considered a poor imitation of ruby, individual stones can be quite valuable and fetch high prices in the market if they are pure and have strong, good color.
Jewelers can carry pieces of spinel and can order or manufacture them at the request of customers. Like other stones, it can be evaluated for signs of inclusions and other impurities that could degrade the quality. Color can also be graduated in terms of intensity and hue.
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