Why does my spinel change colors?

[georgecostanza]

I got this pastel spinel from Mastercutgems for my fiancée to wear as bridal jewelry at our wedding. It has mostly looked like a beautiful blush pink color since it arrived, but I was shocked to see it looking almost totally (lavender?) blue in strong sunlight today. It has shown some slight blue/gray undertones in the past, but the color seems to fully change to blue in strong sunlight. Is this a color change spinel? Could someone explain what I’m looking at here? Maybe the stone is fluorescing in blue?

Light pink:


Blue:

 

[Autumn in New England]

I got this pastel spinel from Mastercutgems for my fiancée to wear as bridal jewelry at our wedding. It has mostly looked like a beautiful blush pink color since it arrived, but I was shocked to see it looking almost totally (lavender?) blue in strong sunlight today. It has shown some slight blue/gray undertones in the past, but the color seems to fully change to blue in strong sunlight. Is this a color change spinel? Could someone explain what I’m looking at here? Maybe the stone is fluorescing in blue?

Light pink:


Blue:

Yeah, so this shade of spinel has a tendency to color shift under different lighting. So it's not uncommon. I also suspect, as you mentioned, there may be some fluorescence going on, as I see that sort of milky effect in the direct sun pic. It's lovely! Congrats on the upcoming nuptials!

 

[georgecostanza]

Yeah, so this shade of spinel has a tendency to color shift under different lighting. So it's not uncommon. I also suspect, as you mentioned, there may be some fluorescence going on, as I see that sort of milky effect in the direct sun pic. It's lovely! Congrats on the upcoming nuptials!

Thank you!! We are so excited.

I’m certainly not complaining, but it was a real shock to see it almost fully turn over into blue. Here’s another shot from in the shade just a few minutes ago. It feels like magic? It’s always been pink until today

 

[Autumn in New England]

Thank you!! We are so excited.

I’m certainly not complaining, but it was a real shock to see it almost fully turn over into blue. Here’s another shot from in the shade just a few minutes ago. It feels like magic? It’s always been pink until today

It is quite a transformation, I must say! Perhaps this stone has a bit of "opalescence?" Again, the direct sun photo is giving me that impression. In this case, it would be caused by minute inclusions. The silky effect can be subtle or dramatic, and often causes a gem (usually spinel or sapphire) to color shift or even look pleochroic. So maybe it's a traditional shifter, but then there's also an "opalescent" and/or fluorescent component. In any event, she sure is majestic!

 

[georgecostanza]

Fascinating! Thank you for the wonderful information. There are a few tiny inclusions in the stone, and it does fluoresce under my longwave UV flashlight.