spinel
Karatz GemMagazine
" Spinel "
Red spinel 0.195ct loose
Star spinel 1.295ct loose
Lavender spinel 1.285ct loose
Spinel is a highly sought-after gemstone among collectors due to its variety of colors and sharp shine.
It is produced in the same octahedral shape as diamonds, and its rough form is also popular.
English name | Spinel |
Japanese name | Spiral stone |
crystal system | equiaxed crystal system |
chemical composition formula | MgAl2O4 |
mohs hardness | 7.5 - 8.0 |
specific gravity | 3.58 - 4.12 |
refractive index | 1.71 - 1.75 |
luster | glass gloss |
Red, blue, pink, gray, purple, black, etc. So far, it is said that no yellow or yellow-green ones have been found.
Main production areas are Myanmar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, etc.
In general, the higher the color, the more vivid the color, the higher the transparency without inclusions, scratches, or chips, the more beautiful the cut, the larger the size, the higher the value.
Furthermore, in the case of spinel, colors such as red, cobalt blue, and hot pink are valued highly.
Spinel is one of the gemstones that is often confused with sapphires and rubies (corundum) because they are produced in the same deposits and look relatively similar.
As a famous anecdote, the British royal family's ``Timur ruby'' and ``Black Prince's ruby'' were both thought to be rubies for a long time, but after identification technology developed, they were investigated and found to be red spinel. It turns out that.