Top 3 things to know about buying a Spinel gemstone
The ethereal beauty of the Spinel gemstone has led royalty and connoisseurs to confuse it with the ruby or the sapphire. The vibrant and lustrous Spinel is preceded by a history of ancient origin and illustrious lineage.
Pink to red Spinel is in high demand among gem connoisseurs. – Courtesy a Private Collector and Mona Lee Nesseth, Custom Estate Jewels. Image courtesy GIA.com
The variegated colours and vitreous luminosity of Spinel gemstones have attracted admirers across the world. No wonder, some of the most celebrated “rubies” are in fact sensational Spinels that have been mined, plundered, exchanged, and owned by people over centuries and across continents. Spinel’s distinguished history was reinforced when it was recognised as one of the three birthstones for the month of August along with popular peridot and unique sardonyx.
This gem at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History is inscribed with noor jahan, or “light of the universe.” – Courtesy “Gems and Gemstones:Timeless Natural Beauty of the Mineral World” by Lance Grande and Allison Augustyn, 2009. University of Chicago Press. Image courtesy GIA.com
What is a Spinel gemstone?
The Spinel crystal is an oxide mineral belonging to the larger Spinel group of minerals. Though mistaken for its more famous counterparts, Spinel remains an under-appreciated gemstone with minimum consumer recognition. In recent past, this gemstone has witnessed increased demand as a beautiful alternative for ruby. This rekindled acceptance among collectors and mass buyers point to the timelessness of Spinel’s flamboyant colour and rich history.
The fashioned Spinel is from Sri Lanka, while the rough crystals are from Myanmar. The second crystal from the right is an octahedron. The other crystals rotated during growth and appear flattened. Scientists call them twinned crystals. Image courtesy GIA.com
Though the popular colours are red and bright pink, Spinel is also available in orange, blue, green, purple and even black. The most prized colours are vibrant red, lucid pink, brilliant orange, and cobalt blue. The paler shade of lavender is comparatively more affordable.
Spinel comes in beautiful red, pink, purple, and blue colours. Image courtesy GIA.com
Being highly transparent and singularly refractive, a red Spinel equals ruby’s colour without costing similarly exorbitant rates. Trace amounts of chromium contribute to the red shade in a Spinel. Scoring a respectable 8 on Mohs Scale of Hardness, Spinel is also durable and can withstand daily wear and tear.
How to choose the best Spinel?
Presence of any visible inclusion mar the beauty and consequently, value of a Spinel gemstone. One or more inclusions that can be observed with the naked eye is certainly not preferable. Spinel has a striking crystalline lustre. Expert cutters aim to highlight this innate quality of the stone by cutting Spinels in a flattering oval as well as using expressive cushion cuts. A properly proportioned Spinel gives off excellent brilliance. A finely hued natural Spinel is virtually unobtainable over the size of five carats. Most superior quality Spinel rough is shaped to save most of its weight and hence, are generally found in non-standard weights.
Finding a Spinel is not tough but locating a natural Spinel without any chemical treatment for colour enhancement, is not easy. Too many imitations have flooded the market leaving buyers confused and at a loss. Spinel’s versatility has played a negative role in its popularity as cheap simulated synthetic Spinels have been frequently pushed into the market.
How much does a good Spinel Cost?
Natural and untreated Spinels are a rare find. A Spinel of red hue or bright pink usually fetches something between US$650 and US$1,300 per carat in the range of 1 and 2 carat sizes. However, the price of a Spinel over the 2 carat mark increases exponentially with its size. Finest quality Spinels in size range of 2 and 5 carats are frequently priced at US$3,500 to US$5,500 per carat.
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