Spinel is the August birthstone, alongside peridot and sardonyx. This beautiful and versatile stone is among the most beautiful gems and jewels.
Synthetic spinel is most often used in costume jewelry. This has somewhat ruined this fascinating stone’s reputation.
A spinel with magnetic properties is known as magnetite. This is also known as a lodestone, and mariners once used them in their compasses. This makes the spinel an important part of navigation history!
Let’s find out more about the history of the spinel.
Where Does the Spinel Come From?
In terms of the gem’s origin, spinels are made of oxygen, aluminum, and magnesium. When they’re first formed, they should be colorless.
Instead, impurities in the rock provide the colors. That’s why you can also find green, yellow, black, purple, and blue spinels. Yellow and green are the rarest varieties.
They’re commonly found in Myanmar, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Tanzania. According to Marco Polo, spinel mining started in Afghanisation in around 750 AD.
Scientists originally discovered how to make synthetic spinels in the 1920s. They were trying to make sapphires when they hit on the process. Synthetic spinels often stand in for aquamarine in costume jewelry.
Similar Gems and Jewels
Blue spinels are often confused with sapphires. Red spinels are sometimes confused with ruby. The English crown jewels even feature two spinels. They’re known as the Timur Ruby and Black Prince’s Ruby.
The Black Prince’s Ruby is part of the Imperial State Crown. Experts think it came from Afghanistan. It passed between Spanish and Moorish kings in the 14th century. The Black Prince, Edward, Prince of Wales, became its owner in 1367 after a victory in battle.
Catherine the Great’s Great Imperial Crown also features a dark red spinel as its centerpiece.
Red spinels are actually undervalued because they’re rarer than rubies. Spinel and rubies often found alongside one another. This helps to explain why they get mistaken for one another.
One way to identify them is to expose them to UV light. Spinel can often be fluorescent in these conditions.
What Does the Spinel Represent?
The spinel is believed to help bring back energy to its owner. It’s also thought to lower stress and anxiety. One way it does this is by boosting new thought patterns.
Others say spinels help give their owner the strength to overcome challenges. Some think it also aids intuition and helps to balance their owner’s emotions.
The red variety is associated with the heart.
If you want to realign your chakras using gems and crystals, the spinel is a great choice. It comes in many colors, so you can choose the right color spinel for a specific chakra. Check out these spinel gemstones for sale.
Enjoy the Beauty of the Spinel
Gems and jewels often have interesting histories or fascinating lore attached to them. The spinel is no different but it’s suffered from a bad reputation thanks to the synthetic versions.
As a stone of kings, and available in many colors, there is bound to be a spinel to suit you.
Keen to boost your fashion style in 2021? Check out our lifestyle articles for more tips and advice.
