Spinel is a gemstone that is gaining increasing popularity in the jewelry world. Collectors and jewelers consider it one of the most beautiful and desirable colored gemstones due to its pure, vivid colors, minimal inclusions, and excellent brilliance. A key feature of spinel is that it is rarely subjected to treatments to enhance its clarity or color, making it a truly natural gemstone.
The primary deposits of spinel are located in Tanzania, Myanmar (Burma), Tajikistan, and Vietnam. Myanmar"s Mogok region is historically renowned for its red spinel, mined there for centuries. The Kuh-i-Lal deposit in Tajikistan is notable for producing large purplish-pink stones. Vietnamese spinel is celebrated for its unique cobalt-blue stones in an electric blue hue. Tanzania holds a special place, particularly the Mahenge deposit, which yields neon-pink and red spinels that are among the most valuable and rare on the global market.
For a long time, red spinel remained overshadowed by the celebrated ruby. This was not due to any lack of beauty or rarity on spinel's part, but rather the immense fame of rubies and the limited knowledge of mineralogy at the time. Many red gemstones found their way into the treasures of powerful monarchs, labeled as rubies. It was only relatively recently discovered that such iconic stones as the "Black Prince's Ruby" and the "Timur Ruby" are, in fact, spinels.
With the advancement of analytical chemistry and mineralogy, scientists established that spinel is a complex oxide of magnesium and aluminum, closely related in composition to rubies and sapphires but with its own unique crystal structure. Gem-quality spinel often forms in the same geological environments as rubies. It's no surprise that early miners in the Mogok region, extracting red gemstones, were unable to distinguish these two visually similar minerals.
Despite spinel's relatively simple chemical composition, its colors vary significantly depending on the stone's geographic origin. Many deposits are known for their specific sets of hues and subtle tonal variations. The differences between red and pink spinels from Myanmar, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Vietnam are particularly striking. Tanzanian spinels from Mahenge exhibit a neon pink-red glow of high saturation, while Vietnamese spinels from the Luc Yen mines are known for their soft pastel pink tones. The distinct hue of Tajik spinels from the Pamirs carries a subtle purplish undertone. The fiery pink-red spinels, known as Jedi spinels from Myanmar"s Namya and Man Sin deposits, are unmatched in the world, distinguished by their vivid color and the absence of dark areas.
Cobalt spinel, an incredibly rare and unique variety of spinel with an intense blue color, is also found in the Luc Yen region of Vietnam.
The rich color diversity of fine spinel explains its universal appeal. Spinels are known for their pure hues, ranging from vivid reds and hot pinks to delicate pastel pinks, lavenders, steel blues, and purples, making them one of the most beloved gemstones.
Ksenia Podnebesnaya often incorporates fine spinel into collections such as "Prince Mish-Mish," "Metropolis," and "Daily Gems."
Explore the designs in our section: Jewelry with spinel.
