Spinel

Natural spinel has always been a rare and beautiful gem. It is one of the August birthstones and the gemstone for the 22nd wedding anniversary.

While spinels have surged in popularity in the last few decades they have been used in jewelry since ancient times. They can be found in many royal jewel collections. The  170ct “Black Prince’s Ruby” and the “Timur Ruby” in the Crown Jewels of England are two examples. Spinel was often mistakenly identified as ruby or sapphire in the past as they form under the same geological conditions and have similar colours, luster, and are nearly as hard, (8 on Moh’s scale of hardness). Traditionally they were mainly sourced in Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, but more recently they have been discovered in various sites in Africa, Australia, Russia, and Vietnam.