Red spinel has long been mistaken for ruby since ancient times, with famous examples adorning British Crown Jewels such as the Black Prince’s Ruby and the Timur Ruby. However, in recent years, red spinel has stepped out from being an alternative to ruby, earning its place as one of the most loved gemstones by international luxury brands.
The sister stone to ruby, red spinel, mainly originates from Mogok in Myanmar and can be found in most primary and secondary mines of corundum gems. At a glance, red spinels share the same bright red hues as rubies. The key difference lies in red spinels being singly refractive by nature and lacking a secondary colour like rubies. Red spinel ranges from orangy red to purplish red in tone.
Since ancient times, red spinels have been mistaken for rubies and were treasured by royal families. Famous spinels include the Black Prince’s Ruby, set in the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom and the Timur Ruby, kept at Buckingham Palace.
In recent years, red spinel has gained a following for its rich colour and excellent clarity and were featured in the collections of many international brands. Stepping out from the shadows as an alternative to ruby, red spinel has rightfully earned its place as one of the gemstones with great potential.
Red spinel and neon pink spinel from Mahenge command excellent investment potential.
Mohs hardness: 9
Origins: Myanmar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan and Vietnam