Spinel can be found on several continents, from Brazil in South America, Kenya in Africa, and especially across the southern portion of Asia, stretching from Afghanistan to Vietnam. It has been commonly found in gravel beds in Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Madagascar, and marble deposits in Vietnam.
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Where are the best spinels from?
Today, fine spinels come from a handful of sources. The best red, pink and orange spinels originate from the rich gem gravels of Burma’s Mogok Stone Tract. The best blue and violet spinels are found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Gem spinel is also found in Vietnam, the Pamir mountains of Tajikistan, Tanzania and Madagascar.
Is spinel a natural gemstone?
Spinel is an allochromatic gemstone which means that the colour in it is caused by trace impurities. Spinel in its pure chemical composition is colourless, however, this is very rarely found in nature.
Why is spinel so expensive?
Interestingly, red spinel is much rarer than rubies, but due to its extreme rarity there is little demand for it and therefore it is not as valuable. As with any gemstone, spinel with even saturation and intense hue are the most valuable.
How do you identify spinel?
The proper way to analyze whether Spinel is real is to put it under a UV Radiation Light. Set it to long-wave and look for any stones that are particularly glowy. If the stones are glowy, that means it’s synthetic and not natural.
What color spinel is most valuable?
red spinel
Some spinel colors are more rare and valuable than others. In general, red spinel is the most desirable, followed by fine cobalt-blue spinel, then by vibrant hot pink and vivid orange stones. Violet and bluish purple to purple, or lavender, stones tend to be less attractive, and less in demand than other, rarer colors.
Is spinel rarer than diamond?
Based on annual production in carats across the world, a natural spinel is rarer than diamonds of any colour, sapphires or rubies.
Is spinel worth money?
Top Spinels in the 2 to 5 carat size will often sell for $3,000 to $5,000 a carat. For the very rare stones over 5 carats, prices in the range of $8,000 to $10,000 per carat are not unusual for the top colors.
How rare is a spinel?
Spinels are 100 times rarer than Rubies and Sapphires, yet less expensive (because most of the world still doesn’t know about these rare beauties!). The minerals that comprise Spinel are very similar to Rubies and Sapphires (Corundum), in fact, Spinels are always found in the mines with Rubies and Sapphires.
Can you wear spinel everyday?
An 8/10 on the Mohs Hardness scale, it’s a durable gem for daily wear.
What is the rarest gemstone?
Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.
Is spinel man made?
What is it? Man-made spinel is used extensively. Discovered accidentally when scientists were experimenting to try and produce a flame-fusion blue synthetic sapphire, spinel’s great advantage is that it can be made to reproduce almost all colors except purple.
Does spinel crack easily?
Spinel is also very hard – only a few materials can scratch it. Spinel is tough – it does not break easily. Those two qualities make spinel one of the most durable gems. The most durable gems are both hard and tough.
Is spinel the strongest gem?
The most powerful gem would be Lapis followed by Spinel. Moonlightst wrote: If you ask me, they seem to be weakening and strengthening the gems when they want for plot convenience. Either the gems are stronger than Spinel or they aren’t.
Is spinel a crystal?
Science & Origin of Spinel
Spinel is a rare aluminum magnesium oxide mineral that crystallizes in the form of octahedral crystals, dodecahedral, cubic, and massive formations. It can be seen in a variety of different colors such as red, blue, green, violet, black, yellow, orange, grey, brown, white, and even colorless.
Does spinel glow under UV?
Natural spinel does not fluoresce strongly under short wavelength u.v., whereas some synthetic spinels do. Synthetic dark red spinel is apparently not manufactured in the quantities that most other colors are. Most synthetic dark red stones are synthetic corundum.
Is spinel rarer than ruby?
You may be surprised to know that spinel is rarer than ruby, but this has not affected its price (yet). Although spinel is still less expensive than ruby, the market for spinel has been increasing.
How do you wash spinel?
To clean spinel jewelry at home, let the piece soak in a solution of warm water and a gentle dish detergent, scrubbing with a soft brush to remove dirt and dust. As with all fine jewelry, spinel should be removed before sleeping.
What does spinel symbolize?
Spinel gems are said to help set aside egos and become devoted to another person. Like most fiery red stones, spinel is believed to encourage great passion, devotion and longevity. Spinel is associated with the root Chakra, making it effective in increasing physical energy and stamina.
Which stone is more expensive than diamond?
Emeralds are rarer than diamonds, and gem-quality green-blue-hued emeralds are more expensive than the same quality of diamond. The Rockefeller Emerald is the most expensive emerald ever sold by weight, selling for $5.51 million in 2017.
Is spinel a girl?
Spinel is the main antagonist of Steven Universe: The Movie and a supporting character in Steven Universe Future. She was created 6,000 years prior to the events of the movie to comfort the lonely Pink Diamond, who had lost her first Pearl to White Diamond.