Spinel is a transparent, lustrous gemstone that forms in a range of colours. Spinel can form as orange, red, pink, violet, and blue. Each of these shades are determined by trace elements that alter the colour of the stone. The origin of the name spinel is uncertain, but it is thought it may derive from the Greek for ‘spark’ possibly owing to the vibrant and bright colours of the gemstone.
Throughout history, intense red spinels have been mistaken for rubies. In fact, the famous 14th Century Black Prince’s ruby that is set into the British Imperial Crown is a spinel. Spinel is gifted for twenty-second wedding anniversaries, and has been added as a birthstone for August. Spinel has been found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Nigeria and the USA.
