WILLS Gemstone Knowledge [One Minute Introduction to Spinel]

Today I would like to introduce to you the birthstone of August — Spinel.

I believe it is not difficult for gem lovers to discover that spinel is a highly sought-after gemstone in recent years, and has even been adopted by major brands as high-end jewelry in the form of series. So why does spinel have such magical power to attract everyone's attention? We together look!

【A sapphire ring from the famous brand VAN CLEEF AND ARPELS】

First of all, there are two sources of the name spinel: one is from the Greek "Spark", describing its flashing fiery color; the other is from the Latin "Spina", which means "thorny". Refers to the original crystal shape of the spinel, hence its name. Its Mohs hardness is 8 (the highest is 10), so it is very suitable for cutting and various inlays.

The crystal shape of spinel is mostly small and pointed.

Spinels come in various colors, including red, pink, yellow, orange, purple, violet, blue and blue-green, etc. Red has the highest commercial value in the market. Its red color is thick and fiery. In ancient times, it was often used as ruby because there was no help from appraisal institutions and machines. In the past, it was often said to be a substitute for ruby. However, with the promotion of major brands and the public’s popularity With a deeper understanding, it can be said that it has completely left this shadow!

The most famous spinel, The Black Prince's Ruby, set in the Crown of the British Empire, has been mistaken for a ruby in the past.

Spinel also comes from many different origins, and different origins have different colors and characteristics. For example, Myanmar’s Jedi Spinel, Tanzania’s Mahenge Neon Pink Spinel, and Vietnam’s cobalt blue spinel also have unique and characteristic colors. .

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Most of the Jedi chosen by WILLS are in shades of red or pink. Feel free to come and see for yourself!

[(Left) Cobalt Spinel and (Right) Mahenge Vivid Pinkish Red Spinel]

In fact, spinel has a profound history. I hope that everyone can appreciate the beauty and unique characteristics of spinel from a different perspective from now on. I believe that its potential for appreciation is very strong!

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