Spinel is a gemstone that comes in a wide range of colors from violet, blue, orange, red, pinks to purples. The most valuable spinels are red that can rival the color of a fine ruby. Red spinels are generally hard to find especially in larger sizes.
Spinel has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale and therefore is a hard and tough stone that’s suitable for everyday wear.
Spinel was also known as balas ruby and many historically important red gems believed to be Rubies were later identified as Spinels in the 1800s. The famous Black Prince's ruby a 170cts red Spinel is now central stone in the British Imperial state crown.
Spinel is gemstone cherished by collectors for its brilliance, hardness and rarity.
The Trace element Chromium causes the Red in spinels.
Spinels are often found together with rubies when mining. Sources include Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Tajisktan, Afganistan, Madagascar, Tanzania and Srilanka.