Gemstones - Spinel

Note: Magnification and bright lighting is required to photograph gemstones.  Some inclusions may be visible under these circumstances. You are viewing photographs as if you were using a loupe - not your naked eye.  Under normal conditions, these inclusions may not be visible.

Not responsible for mismatches of prices, photos, stocknumbers, etc.



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Information on Spinels: Depending on the lights that are available, they may look different from one light source to another. This can be a plus as they can look like two different stones at times. Many of the reds or pinks will be less vibrant under fluorescent and more vivid in daylight and incandescent lights. Many may mistake spinel to be sapphire, ruby or even other stones. This has been true of even well-known, famous gemstones such as the Black Prince's Ruby - it was actually a red spinel. Though synthetic spinel is used in high school and college rings, the naturals have been under rated by the public.

We have always been bullish on spinel. Here are some reasons why
It is not overpriced for what it is - for most colors and sizes they are VERY affordable.

Spinel takes a wonderful polish.

It is available in numerous colors.

Spinel is harder than most commonly seen gemstones in rings as it is has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, so it is just slightly softer than sapphire or ruby but harder than garnet.

Note that we have had many of these gems stashed away in our vaults for decades. These were priced at that time, so the pricing is also decades old. Prices may change in the future. Now is the time to add to your gemstone collection or create a piece of jewelry with a gemstone which should be one of the most popular gemstones with the public.

Red Spinel from Burma (Mogok).  Similar to Ruby in that  under indirect outdoor lighting or fluorescent light, the color is saturated with sort of a reddish to smokey red color.  Under incandescent light, the red is more evident as it flashes and dances.  The color under incandescent is very much a ruby color. 1.41ct Oval:  $176  algmst-10-02 1.64ct Square Cushion:  $205   algmst-10-03 2.64ct Square Cushion:  $330   algmst-10-06

A Unique Deep Grey Blue to Bluish Purple (depending on lights) African Spinel weighing 2.79ct. A Sparkler  Priced to move immediately. SOLD! (Store Sale)

A Wonderful Blue 2.22ct Oval Spinel from Tanzania.  It is a rich deep intense powder blue to darker blue depending on the lights and possibly a hint of indigo or purple.  A small crystal is off to the side and under the table.  It has great structure and possible striations.  A most for those who love to study inclusions or for those who seek a true blue natural Spinel!  Under most conditions, we would call this eye clean.  A super Spinel of great color, cutting and even clarity..  (gembol-09-01)  $1,650 (Photographed for possible publication in an upcoming book on gemstones!)  SOLD!

Office Fluorescent Lights	Incandescent, Sunlight, Other
Our Master Cutter recut this wondefully colored BURMESE Spinel.  Like many Spinel, the true color observed may change under different lighting conditions.  We would call this a Orangy Red to a Pinkish Red depending on available lights.  Two photos have been provived to show that it can look more red with pink as well as reddish orange.  We've had a few people view it .  Describing the color is difficult, though most would agree the body color is some variation of red - some have even said it was very Padparadshah-like.  The color is very similar to other Burmese red Spinel that we have in smaller sizes, but this is the exceptional and rare case of a large one being available!  3.20cts (kaek-07-09)  $4,800   SOLD! (With some recent finds of Spinel selling at $4,000 to $8,000 per carat wholesale, this seems like a steal!  Good Spinel is getting harder to find.  Our entire Spinel inventory was On Hold in 2006 for a collector/investor, but unfortunately, he passed away prior to his actual purchase). "Burma was as synonymous with top-quality spinel as it was ruby—and asking prices for Burmese goods in Thailand proved it. One TV network gem buyer reports that exceptional spinels were capturing as much as $3,000 per carat in Bangkok a year ago. No wonder fine spinels were pricing themselves out of reach for Americans who had to pay for them in ever-weakening dollars."  - Modern Jeweler (And the $3000/ct figure is wholesale!  - ATG)

A	B
A -  0.71ct Flame Spinel, great vivid glowing color  ( scrp-08-04)  $497
B -  0.92ct Oval Reddish Orange Spinel  (scrp-08-05)  $345

A	B
A -  Matched Red Burmese Spinel (minco-07-03pa ) - Approx 4.75x4.0mm cushiony squares, slightly more cushion shape, weighing 1.03cts  - $567 for the pair
B -  Matched Red Burmese Spinel (minco-07-03pb) - Approx 5.3x4.7mm  shapes similar to the above, weighing 1.81cts  -  $1086 for the pair

Burmese Red Spinel, 0.75ct Square  (minco-07-01p)  $375  (Part of a parcel - call or email to insure availability) Approx 4.6x5.0x3.8mm

A	B
A -  1.13ct Spinel Approx 6mm Round - Bright Orange, Burma  (evgem-06a-01)  $339
B -  1.40ct Spinel  Approx 7.5x5.1mm Pear - Smoky Orange, Burma  (evgem-06a-02)  $140
Purchased at the Burmese Rough Auction years ago.  We have never really seen this color in all of our 25+ years in this business!  Both pieces together - a special price of:  $270 Note that this is the first offering of these stones.  The price may increase as we know it is rare, we just don't know how rare at this point...

3.87ct Spinel

From Burma, known for their spinels and corundum, the color of this piece is reminiscent of Rhodolite Garnet! (gag-06-01)  $870

A	B
A -  2.26ct Natural Round Clear Spinel   (minco-04-01)   approx 8.8x6.1mm    $791 (photo is currently of the oval shown below - to be co
B -   3.47ct Natural Oval Clear Spinel  (minco-04-02)   approx 8.4x7.8x6.1mm    $1215
Note -  With clear/white spinel, the spinel crystal cannot contain any impurities within the crystal lattice.  If there are any impurities, which is usually the case in 100% of the crystals as they grow, there will be some color.  In this case, we have a pure spinel with no other elements or impurties - which is quite rare.  These are the only other clear spinels that we have had in inventory since we obtained one stone just over 2cts about 10 years ago!  (In the oval Spinel above, the beige/salmon color seen is the reflection of the photographers fingers...)

A	B	C
A -   1.50ct Trilliant Spinel  (ksn-95a-03)  $195
B -   1.62ct Oval Spinel  (agl-92c-01)  $325
C -   1.26ct Oval Spinel  (pgml-92b-01a)  $252

A	B	C	D
A -  1.24ct Oval Spinel  (pgml-92b-01b)  $248
B -   1.30ct Oval Spinel  (pgml-92b-01c)  $260
C -  3.21 ct Oval Spinel  (rma-92-02a)  $642
D - 1.33ct  Emerald Cut Spinel  (rma-92-01)  $266

A	B
A -  2.70ct Roundish Oval Spinel  (pgml-92b-01d)  $540
B -  0.90ct Marquise Shaped Spinel  (minco-92a-01a)  $129

A	B
A -  1.33ct Pear Shaped Spinel  (minco-92a-02a)  $259
B -   0.87ct Pear Shaped Spinel  (minco-92a-02c)  $168

A	B	C
A -  2.76ct Pear Shaped Spinel  (minco-92a-01b)  $442
B -  1.03ct Oval Spinel  (minco-92a-02b)  $142
C -  1.13ct Oval Spinel  (minco-92a-02d)  $219
Note:  The above stones have some inclusions.  The steel blue one has a feather deep in the stone and the two red ones have small inclusions.  The reds look like rubies under incandescent lights and with the inclusions, if one can see them, it is also remininscent of rubies.

A	B	C
A -  1.18ct Marquise Shaped Spinel, Bright Pink, (fi-93a-03)  $292
B -   0.40ct Oval Spinel, unusual blue, (ksn-93-07b)  $160
C -  1.95ct Oval Spinel, unsual Purple Blue, color shifting, some inclusions deep, but not eye visible (ksn-93-06e)  $585

A	B	C
A -  1.06ct Oval Spinel, nice blue purple color, color shifting, (ksn-93-07a)  $371
B -  0.90ct Oval Spinel, Tourmaline Pink or Rhodolite Color, (qcgm-90-01)  $258
C -  1.82ct Oval Purple Spinel, color shifting, two small inclusions visible in the right light or with loupe - they are visible in the photo because of the angle, lighting and magnification.  Note that they are not readily visible with the naked eye and they are really interesting under a microscope, proving the stone is natural. (ksn-93-06a)   $546  (Refaceted in the US by one of our cutters to make an even better looking stone in polish, brilliance, etc!)

Buy Now using your PayPal account:  < Buy Now - PayPal >
For purchases using another form of payment, please use our Purchase Form.
You may also telephone or send an email.