The gemstone Spinel has been use in jewellery for centuries - including in many famous pieces - yet has remained under the radar of fame. Red Spinels in particular were once used interchangeably with Ruby, and appear in many famous historical jewels. With growing knowledge of gemstones and gemmology, more is now known about this incredible gemstones and its characteristics.
Found naturally in almost any colour you can dream up, and strong and durable in composition, Spinels are a beautiful choice for a custom jewellery design. Here are 6 of many beautiful colours in this gemstone family.
1. Red Spinel
Just like the historically world famous Ruby, a fine quality Red Spinel is beautifully captivating. Found in all sorts of tones from sparkly bright reds, through to deep rich earthy reds, if red is your colour, you're bound to find a shade you love in this gem variety.
Beautiful Red Spinels have historically been mistaken as Rubies.
2. Blue Spinel
Although Blue Sapphire is the long standing famous blue coloured gem, Blue Spinel is a stunning blue variety for a unique custom jewellery piece. Colours can be found in rich blue shades normally associated with Sapphire, paler blues, greyish sleepy tones, and unique vibrant blue tones coloured by the element Cobalt. Their colours are also typically entirely natural, unlike other blue gemstones that often undergo heat treatment to achieve a beautiful hue.
Blue Spinel is a beautiful alternative to the more commonly known Blue Sapphire.
3. Pink Spinel
With colours that rival the ever popular Pink Sapphire, Pink Spinel is a gemstone that offers a unique option for those who love the colour pink in jewellery. Vibrant pink tones in particular are a specialty within this gemstone, with colours so captivating they glow - quite literally, in the case of ‘Neon Spinels’ or ‘Jedi Spinels’, which exhibit fluorescence in UV light. The unique optical properties of this gemstone make for a beautiful statement piece of jewellery.
Pink Spinels are beautiful for statement jewellery pieces.
4. Grey Spinel
If you're looking for a gemstone that isn't a diamond, but also want a neutral colour that will match everything you wear, Grey Spinel is a wonderful option - and one of few coloured gemstone varieties where Grey can be found. Grey Spinels are strong enough to be designed into an engagement ring for an alternative to a traditional diamond ring, and are beautiful worked into other jewellery designs like earrings and pendants.
Grey Spinel makes for a beautiful neutral coloured gemstone piece.
5. Orange Spinel
The colour orange is rarely seen in a retail jewellery display case, making it an excellent choice for jewellery wearers wanting something out of the ordinary. Orange Spinel, particularly in a vibrant hot orange, is a beautiful option to make a unique design a reality.
Orange gemstones, like this Hot Orange Spinel, are a unique choice for bespoke jewellery.
6. Purple Spinel
Spinels are found in purple shades from deep violet right through to pastel lavender finds. It’s one of the few gemstone varieties that offer purple as a colour choice strong enough for an every day piece of jewellery.
Purple Spinels are one of few purple gemstone varieties that are strong enough for engagement rings.
With its huge array of colours, and excellent strength, Spinel is an incredible gemstone variety for coloured gemstone jewellery. From deep, rich shades, to pastel colours, there is a huge variety of colours to be explored and enjoyed.
To explore this unique family of gemstones, book an appointment directly with our jeweller.
