Natural Spinel: Complete Guide for Trade, Jewelry, and Collections

This comprehensive guide provides everything you need to know about natural spinel, for trade partners, jewelers, and collectors alike.

Overview

Natural spinel is a gemstone that has long been overshadowed by its more famous counterparts, yet it is celebrated for its rich color spectrum, ranging from red to blue and even black. With a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, spinel is durable and suitable for various types of jewelry. This gemstone is often confused with ruby and sapphire due to its similar appearance, but its unique characteristics and rarity make it a sought-after choice for discerning collectors and jewelers. Understanding spinel's properties, sources, and market dynamics is crucial for anyone involved in its trade or collection.

Physical Properties and Specifications

  • Chemical Composition: MgAl₂O₄

  • Hardness: 7.5 - 8 on the Mohs scale

  • Crystal System: Cubic

  • Refractive Index: 1.718 - 1.730

  • Specific Gravity: 3.58 - 3.62

  • Pleochroism: Weak, typically showing slight color variation

  • Fluorescence: Generally inert, but can show weak fluorescence

  • Cleavage/Fracture: Perfect octahedral cleavage, conchoidal fracture

Color and Quality Classifications

Available Color Ranges

  • Primary hues: Red, blue, pink, orange, purple, and black

  • Secondary modifications: Brown, gray, and green shades

  • Tone and saturation ranges: Light to dark tones with vivid saturation

  • Premium colors: Bright red, cobalt blue, and vivid pink

  • Commercial grades: Light shades and less saturated colors

Clarity Characteristics

  • Typical inclusion types: Needle-like inclusions, color zoning

  • Clarity grading standards: Eye-clean to included

  • Source-specific features: Unique inclusions that may indicate origin

  • Eye-clean criteria: No visible inclusions to the naked eye

Source Locations and Material

Historic sources

  • Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Tanzania

Current production

  • Significant production is currently from Myanmar, Tanzania, and Vietnam.

Source-specific characteristics

  • Each location imparts distinct characteristics in color and clarity.

Production trends

  • Increasing demand for spinel due to its unique colors and growing recognition in the jewelry market.