Many spinel crystals have an octahedral
shape, just like diamond rough.
The name "spinel" is
derived from the resemblance
of these crystals to thorns (spina
in Latin).
It wasn't until 1783 that red spinel
and ruby were recognized as different
minerals. The "Black Prince's
Ruby" set in the center of the
British Imperial State Crown is actually
not a ruby, but a red spinel. Acquired
by Edward, Prince of Wales (the "Black
Prince") during the 14th century,
this lovely spinel remains the main
stone of the Imperial Crown to this
day.
In precious Stones (1896), the German
mineralogist Max Bauer reported that
spinals are "far more free from
faults" than rubies, and that
a one-carat spinel is worth "about
half as much as ruby of equal weight," or "£5
to £7 10s."
The beauty of red spinel lies in
its pure red color. Because spinel
is a singly refractive mineral, it
does not exhibit pleochroism. The
spinel on the next
page (from Mogok,
Myanmar), with its mosaic of light
orangey-red and dark red created
by its faceted cut, exhibits a balanced
beauty. |
This spinel
is a "cushion" shape (a
rectangle with rounded corners);
the ancient method of fashioning
spinels was simply to polish the
stone's surface, resulting in finished
gems that closely followed the shape
of the rough material, much like
today's cabochon cuts. The beauty
of a cabochon-cut gemstone emphasizes
the fineness of the stone's color,
but in the faceted styles that currently
predominate, the key point is the
three-dimensional beauty created
by the mosaic pattern. Spinels are
not heat-treated.
Spinels are especially attractive
in reddish colors, and they also
possess high hardness and durability.
So why aren't spinels as well known
as rubies? The main reason is a lack
of sufficient quantities for successful
marketing, due to limited mining
production. |
