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FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT SPINEL
Spinel is a beautiful and alluring gemstone that’s set to have a moment in 2023. Typically lavender, red, orange or blue, it’s beautiful, affordable and has all the right properties to be set in your everyday jewellery. Of course, it’s an alternative gemstone so we are here for it. And we think you should consider spinel for your engagement ring too.
Here’s why:
SPINEL WAS MISTAKENLY SET IN THE CROWN JEWELS
A ruby in disguise, red spinel has been mistaken for this more popular gem throughout history in many famous pieces of jewellery, including our own crown jewels. Why? Well they’re often found alongside each other. One way to tell the difference is the way light moves through the stone. Rubies have a ‘double refraction’ which means that one beam of light will enter the stone and leave as two different colours. However, spinels have a ‘single refraction’, resulting in a more vivid and intense colour.
rolled, tumbled and unearthed
When you think of ‘mining’ for gemstones, you could be forgiven for thinking of deep excavation and pits. However, spinel is much closer to the surface than you may think. Often trapped within softer stone or marble, over time this wears away and the spinel finds its way to gravel pits and even rivers. More often than not, a spinel will be found as a rolled or tumbled pebble, ready to be cut and faceted.
red, purple, blue and more
Just like sapphires, a spinel's colour is determined by traces of other elements which have been trapped within the stone. Spinel colours range from reds and pinks, which are the most valuable, through to lavender, blue, purple and more. Our favourite colour to work with by far is lavender, which looks beautiful in our Charlotte setting.
SPINELS ARE FOUND ALL OVER THE WORLD
Just like sapphires and rubies, spinels can be found all over the world. The most prominent deposits are in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, however it’s also found in Tanzania, Vietnam, Kenya and Madagascar.
THEY MAKE FOR BEAUTIFUL ENGAGEMENT RINGS
Spinels are colourful, beautiful and at 8 on the MOHS scale, they are perfect for everyday wear in an engagement ring. Here are our favourite spinel engagement ring designs.
