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Spinel has cubic crystal structure, which is found in metamorphic rocks where aluminum oxide (corundum) and magnesium forms this gem; once the magnesium is exhausted it is only then when a ruby is crystallized. This is why they are very often mistaken for ruby.

Burma is where the finest stones where found with a very deep intense red in colour, which is very similar to that of a ruby, they were recognized as a separate gem as early as 1587. Now treasured as a gem of its own it is becoming a favourite stone among dealers due to its hardness of 8, it’s pure brilliance, and it’s wide range of colours such as the Burmese spinel, a very rare stone which can be found in a hot pink colour.

They are very often found in a variety of colours due to the presence of any impurities, these range from red, which is the most popular colour, this is coloured by chromium and iron. the blue variety is coloured by iron and other colours available in spinel are rose, orange, brown, pink violet, purple, mauve, green and black. Colourless examples are very rare.

Suggestions have been made that the word ‘spinel’ could have come from the Greek word ‘spark’ which refers to the bright red colour. Transparent red stones can often be classed as spinel-rubies or Balas-rubies. The yellow variety is named rubicelle and the violet one is called almandine.

As some stones are man made and are often used as imitation birthstones, many people mistake them for synthetic stones. These synthetic stones have been in manufacture since 1910 and throughout the years have been used to imitate diamonds and other precious gemstones such as aquamarine. Blue varieties have been used to imitate sapphire.

Fine examples are becoming incredibly rare, even rarer than rubies which they once imitated, however we have a great source and can find beautiful stones for our customers.