SPINEL

After centuries of receiving little respect, the long misidentified gem may be on its way to receiving its rightful place in the gemstone world. Overlooked as a designated birthstone and always given third billing as the best red/pink color, after ruby and diamond, a new find of Spinel may change your mind about these fiery gems. Spinel has been mistaken for Ruby almost all its life. Some of the most famous Rubies are in fact Red Spinels such as the Black Prince's Ruby in the British Crown Jewels and the Timur Ruby. The Black Prince's Ruby is a large Spinel that is now prominently set in the Imperial State Crown which was made for King George VI.

Loose Spinel in a variety of cuts

This crown also contains the Cullinan II Diamond and is worn at the State Opening of Parliament. The Timur Ruby is a behemoth Spinel at 361carats and is now owned by Queen Elizabeth. It has an undeniable pedigree as the names of the previous owners are engraved on its face and include some of the Mughal emperors. Spinel was finally recognized as a separate gem species as early as 1587 in Burma (now Myanmar) where some of the of the most beautiful colors are mined, but the charade went on for almost two centuries in the rest of the world until French mineralogist 'Jean Baptiste Louis Rome de Lisle' concluded it was separate mineral from ruby in the 1700's. Spinel is a true candy apple red and can go all the way to faint pink. It is also found as an orangish red, blue and violet which are much rarer. Spinel is one of the few gems that are not usually treated after mining.

With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scales, it is a fabulous choice for the connoisseur who wants a ring they can wear frequently.

Its brilliance and captivating color make Spinel the favorite colored gemstone for several of us at Coffin and Trout. Once you see its true red color, you will never mistake it for ruby again. With a large selection of reds and pinks, we can find just the right one for you, so we invite you to come in and give Spinel a little respect.