Spinel
The Black Prince’s Ruby. The Timur Ruby. For centuries, spinel, the great imposter, masqueraded as ruby in Europe’s crown jewels. Although frequently confused with ruby, spinel stands on its own merits. Available in a striking array of colours, its long history includes many famous large spinels still in existence.
Birthstones & Anniversaries
Spinel was recently added as an August birthstone, sharing this month with peridot and sardonyx. It has long been mistaken for ruby by emperors and monarchs. Many of the famous “rubies” of history were actually spinels.
Facts
Mineral: spinel
Chemistry: MgAl2O4
Colour: red, orange, pink, purple, blue, black
Refractive index: 1.718
Birefringence: none
Specific gravity: 3.60
Mohs Hardness: 8
