What is it about spinel?

[SouthernGent]

I love silver and gray spinels, though I have others. They sparkle and don’t look like any other gems to me.

True. There's really no other stone, natural or man made, that mimics a gray spinel.

 

[T L]

True. There's really no other stone, natural or man made, that mimics a gray spinel.

Gray diamonds are amazing as well. I own quite a few greenish grays. I think they’re incredibly dispersive, like gray spinels. If one is In the market for a gray stone, check out both gray diamonds and spinels. Just my two cents.

As for spinels, they’re the most underrated and under appreciated stones. Most people that appreciate them are gem aficionados like the people on this board. That’s okay, more for us!!

 

[Nick_G]

I've always been in complete love with Spinels. Here's some of my favorites of mine, all taken in low light.

Wow. The second blue one is stunning. Is that a cobalt spinel? It certainly looks like one.

 

[leslie1956]

@dk168 I guess you would want a larger raspberry red spinel?

I came across this while browsing on Etsy, and it's very affordable, but I don't know what I'd do with it. It was described by the vendor as cranberry, so I thought I would share it.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/289122...rry-color?ref=shop_home_active_23&pro=1&frs=1

What a luscious color Spinels are the only gem that can tempt me over to the pink side

 

[LJsapphire]

The first time I saw one in real life (a purple/grape one) I was mesmerised by the colour, the sparkle and the clarity. I'd still like to get one at some point.

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

Wow. The second blue one is stunning. Is that a cobalt spinel? It certainly looks like one.

Thank you! I haven't sent it for a report yet but have had it tested locally as natural. I intend on doing so when I have it reset, maybe later this year. I bought it second hand. It has a deeper tone than most "cobalt" spinels I've seen online and is surprisingly magnetic (because the iron content), but is a very true vivid blue, and never blacks out. Most jewelers even mistake it for a sapphire.

 

[T L]

Thank you! I haven't sent it for a report yet but have had it tested locally as natural. I intend on doing so when I have it reset, maybe later this year. I bought it second hand. It has a deeper tone than most "cobalt" spinels I've seen online and is surprisingly magnetic (because the iron content), but is a very true vivid blue, and never blacks out. Most jewelers even mistake it for a sapphire.

Yes, nice blue and violet spinels rival nice sapphires and tanzanite.

 

[arkieb1]

For me, I like they fact some are rare and come in neon colours. Sapphires come in beautiful blues but spinels come in what I describe as neon "Cookie Monster" Blues;

My photos always make these look like blue sapphires my Iphone doesn't capture the weird almost synthetic neon "Cookie Monster" colour they (Yuc Yen Cobalt spinels) really are.

And there is very little (maybe neon hot pink red Burma rubies but nothing else I can think of) that matches neon & Jedi reds and pinks and Mahenge spinels either.

 

[dk168]

@voce, thanks for the link, however the colour does not suit.

Besides, I am not in the position to purchase any jewellery at present.

DK

 

[lovedogs]

For me, I like they fact some are rare and come in neon colours. Sapphires come in beautiful blues but spinels come in what I describe as neon "Cookie Monster" Blues;

My photos always make these look like blue sapphires my Iphone doesn't capture the weird almost synthetic neon "Cookie Monster" colour they (Yuc Yen Cobalt spinels) really are.

And there is very little (maybe neon hot pink red Burma rubies but nothing else I can think of) that matches neon & Jedi reds and pinks and Mahenge spinels either.

I love all of these so much

 

[Arkteia]

I think it is just how lively they are.
And then, a good spinel looks beautiful in most lights.

 

[wordie89]

I have to agree with previous answers: sparkle, color, affordability (mostly) and no treatments are what made spinels attractive. The mahenges were just starting to light up the gemstone firmament when I stumbled onto this amazing place.

 

[voce]

https://www.thestar.com/amp/vancouv...al-ingredients-for-prized-blue-gemstones.html

This made me squeal in excitement. Another source for cobalt blue spinel!

 

[leslie1956]

https://www.thestar.com/amp/vancouv...al-ingredients-for-prized-blue-gemstones.html

This made me squeal in excitement. Another source for cobalt blue spinel!

Even better yet, it’s in North America!

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

Take a look at Kosnar Gem Co on Etsy. Their photos are pretty brightly lit and you can see the steely aluminum flashes. I have done business with Brad and they are nice to work with. He had a dark purple spinel oval and I believe it sold to a PSer.

 

[T L]

Just got back from the jeweler and he polished up my favorite spinel after adding double prongs. It was always coming loose in the 18k rose gold setting, and I would absolutely die if I lost this stone. It’s a 3 carat Tanzanian blue spinel. I think these photos capture the luster and sparkle, which is a huge reason to love this gem species.

 

[Lexililac]

In my opinion spinels belong together with corundum, chrysoberyl and diamond to the top four in gems. All of them are unproblematic in durability, all of them have high RI and all of them show a wide range of lovely colors (diamonds on the last place in terms of color).

Spinels have a lovely, open and honest appearance thanks to their single refractivity. There are no difficulties with color zoning or orientation to the C-axis like in corundum. So they are very "easy gems" compared to their closest relatives, the corundums. Only difficult point in spinels are the color! The majority of spinels have problems with color because of 1. to dark tones witch creates overly dark and unattractive gems, 2. bad secondary color witch creates gems they just look lovely in bright daylight and in not optimal light the secondary color disturbs their beauty. So often seen in Tunduru spinels for example, where a grayish/metallic secondary color/tone disturb the color, or the color of a spinel is a mix of for example something like pink, purple, red, orange and such spinels with no clear color look always "mix" and unclear and not so attractive even they haven't a problem with tone or saturation. 3. Many spinles are not saturated enough to be very attractive. Even in pastel colors its a huge difference if you've a saturated pastel color or a not saturated pastel color. In not perfect lightning conditions you will see the difference.

Spinels are for me like the bunnies in the gem world, they have a open uncomplicated and sunny mood and like the bunnies, there are plenty of them! But most of them get eaten, the very few surviving are so beautiful that they do looot of babies/pleasure.

 

[LJsapphire]

The first time I saw one in real life (a purple/grape one) I was mesmerised by the colour, the sparkle and the clarity. I'd still like to get one at some point.

Should add for reference

 

[T L]

Lexilliac,
Yes, many spinels tend to have a gray or brown modifier. I remember when I first started looking into spinels for my collection, and I thought it was such an unattractive gem species. Then I finally saw a beautiful one, and the love affair began.

I’m glad you mentioned chrysoberyl. Yellow chrysoberyl is one of the most underrated and ignored gems. It’s super durable, often has saturated color, sparkles like mad, is untreated, and extremely affordable. I know alexandrite is it’s more popular form, but considering the expense and myriad of treatments in yellow sapphire, I think yellow chrysoberyl is a fabulous alternative.

 

[voce]

I remember when I first started looking into spinels for my collection, and I thought it was such an unattractive gem species. Then I finally saw a beautiful one, and the love affair began.

That was also my experience with spinels. I don't care for the ones that are moody or over dark or dull from masks, but the beautiful ones that sparkle like mad take my breath away.

 

[Lexililac]

 

[Lexililac]

Lexilliac,
Yes, many spinels tend to have a gray or brown modifier. I remember when I first started looking into spinels for my collection, and I thought it was such an unattractive gem species. Then I finally saw a beautiful one, and the love affair began.

I’m glad you mentioned chrysoberyl. Yellow chrysoberyl is one of the most underrated and ignored gems. It’s super durable, often has saturated color, sparkles like mad, is untreated, and extremely affordable. I know alexandrite is it’s more popular form, but considering the expense and myriad of treatments in yellow sapphire, I think yellow chrysoberyl is a fabulous alternative.

Yes chrysoberyls can be enormous sparkly!! Especially if they are nicely cut and with open colors.

Those are two such sparklers..

 

[Lexililac]

Color isn't very accurate in my chrysoberyl pic. Here are a more professional and accurate pic from adamant international. Im very happy about everything Ive from them)


And here in UV light witch lovely shows the content of chromium in that chrysoberyl

 

[voce]

Color isn't very accurate in my chrysoberyl pic. Here are a more professional and accurate pic from adamant international. Im very happy about everything Ive from them


And here in UV light witch lovely shows the content of chromium in that chrysoberyl

That's a gorgeous chrysoberyl, but it's vanadium that makes it fluoresce. Chromium is not the only element making gems fluoresce under UV.

 

[T L]

My fav spinel in fluorescent Home Depot light. I need something to look at while hubby drags me there, lol. It’s a color shifter from blue (daylight) to violet.

 

[voce]

Gorgeous. It's such a treat when you show us your rings, T L.

 

[Lexililac]

My fav spinel in fluorescent Home Depot light. I need something to look at while hubby drags me there, lol. It’s a color shifter from blue (daylight) to violet.

The color shifters I really really love Its a gorgeous spinel!! Very understandable that you like that one so much

 

[Lexililac]

That's a gorgeous chrysoberyl, but it's vanadium that makes it fluoresce. Chromium is not the only element making gems fluoresce under UV.

As far as I know Vanadium not reacts in UV light. At least Ive not a single Vanadium chrysoberyl as well as sapphires with Vanadium witch reacts in UV light. I know just about Chromium and Cobalt witch reacts...

 

[voce]

As far as I know Vanadium not reacts in UV light. At least Ive not a single Vanadium chrysoberyl as well as sapphires with Vanadium witch reacts in UV light. I know just about Chromium and Cobalt witch reacts...

https://www.fluomin.org/uk/fiche.php?id=291
I was not aware chrysoberyl could have chromium, but either chromium or vanadium could be an activator for fluorescence.

If your vanadium chrysoberyls and sapphires are not fluorescent, then it is likely iron quenching the fluorescence. See post #3 by Nosean in the following thread.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/vanadium-chrysoberyl-with-fluorescence.238571/

 

[T L]

Thank you Voce and Laxilliac. It’s so hard to capture the way this spinel sparkles in the photos. It’s not just the color I love, but honestly it throws out pink flashes and deep blue sparks. I have a benitoite that does the same thing, but it’s much smaller, softer, and not as pretty.

ETA; I need to check the UV on my chrysoberyls now.