Spinel, Gemstone of Royalty

Spinel gemstones have been confused with ruby and sapphire for centuries.  The approximately 170 carat black prince ruby, the center stone in the state crown of England, found in the fourteenth century is actually a large spinel.   Spinel has been mined in the same mines as rubies and sapphires for hundreds of years.  It wasn't until  1783 that it was found to be a different gemstone.

Spinel makes an excellent replacement for ruby and sapphire as it's around half the price per carat. It is very durable with a mohs hardness of 7.5- 8 making it an excellent choice for jewelry of all kinds and it is never treated in any way.  Synthetic spinel is very common, so be careful that what you're buying is a genuine gemstone. Spinel is a very rare stone, rarer than ruby, and is grossly underpriced.  As more people are attracted to it and it becomes more popular, genuine spinel prices should rise accordingly.

Spinel gemstones are said to reduce stress and promote calmness when worn.  It is said also to promote healing based on the color of the gem.  Red is said to increase energy, pink and green, love and caring, lavender or purple, spiritual enhancement and yellow encourages intelligence.

Overall, spinel gemstones make beautiful and elegant jewelry of all types with excellent value for the price. At Ralph Mueller, we do have an inventory of them. If you're in the market to buy or sell, we encourage you to come in for a visit, or contact us with any questions you may have!