Birthstone Guide

Jewelers of America's

Official Birthstone List
 

Visit www.jewelers.org for birthstone gift ideas, or to find a JA Member jeweler near you.

Spinel

SPINELS enjoy a long and storied history. Some of the most famous historical gems that were originally thought to be rubies turned out to be spinel. A notable example is the Black Prince's Ruby, a centerpiece of the British Imperial State Crown, which was only recently confirmed to be a spinel. Spinels tend to be more reflective and flittering than rubies, because of their different optical characteristics. Much like rubies and sapphires, they can be found in a wide assortment of colors.

SPINEL is an August birtstone and it is sometimes used to commemorate a 22nd wedding anniversary. Everyone can take pleasure from its glittering optics and vibrant colors.

SPINEL FACTS:

• Spinel is a mineral that comes from Afghanistan, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Kenya, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam. 
• Spinel is a durable gemstone with a hardness of 8.0 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
• Spinel is cut in many shapes and sizes. Colors range from orange to intense red or pink,a nd all shades between purple, blue and violet to bluish green.

SPINEL TREATMENT

• Spinels are not generally treated. Experimentally, however, some have been heat treated and infrequent surface-reaching fractures are treated with oils or polymers. Information about any stone known to be treated should be disclosed to the buyer.

SYNTHETIC SPINELS

• Spinel can also be man-made, meaning it is mabnufactured in a lab rather than mined, and this fact should be understood by the seller and clearly disclosed to the buyer.

SPINEL CARE AND CLEANING

• To minimize scratching and wear, store each piece of fine jewelry separately in a soft cloth or padded container.
• Avoid exposure to intense heat as light-colored stones may fade.
• Spinel jewelry is best cleaned with warm, sudsy water and a tightly woven microfiber or other soft cloth.
• Take all your fine jewelry to a professional jewelry at least twice a year for a thorough cleaning and inspection.

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