5 Things to Know About Spinels

1.

What is a spinel?

The earliest examples of spinels date back to ancient times. But until the 18th century, red and pink spinels were confused with rubies and called “balas” (or “balais”) rubies – after the region of Balascia, the ancient name for the Badakshan region on the border of Afghanistan, Tajikistan and northern India.

Like rubies, spinels can be a magnificent red colour and are commonly found in the same mines. Some of the largest and most famous “rubies” in the world have now been revealed to be spinels, including the Black Prince’s Ruby in the Imperial State Crown and the Timur Ruby Necklace, both in the British crown jewels.

It was not until 1783 that French mineralogist Jean-Baptiste Louis Romé de l’Isle developed a test that identified spinels as different to rubies.

2.

Where can spinels be found?

Historically, the grandest and most famous spinels came from the legendary Kuh-i-Lal (“red mountain”) mines near Afghanistan. The Black Prince’s Ruby and the Timur Ruby Necklace both originated from Kuh-i-Lal mines.

Today, spinels can be found in Africa, Australia, Russia and Southeast Asia. In Burma, spinel crystals are said to be “nat thwe”, or “polished by the spirits”, for their brilliance and shine.

3.

How many spinel colours are there?

The best-known spinels are red, but the gemstone also exists in both rich and subtle shades of blues, pinks, oranges and purples.

A spinel is an allochromatic gemstone, meaning it is colourless in its purest form but will appear coloured if there are impurities inside, such as metals. Red and pink spinels owe their colour to traces of chromium – the higher the chromium impurities, the stronger the hue. Orange and purple spinels are caused by a mix of chromium and iron. Violet and blue spinels are caused by traces of irons, while the presence of cobalt can turn a spinel a vibrant blue colour.

Similar to spinels, rubies are red from traces of chromium and sapphires are blue from traces of iron, however, the majority of rubies and sapphires on the market are also artificially treated to enhance their appearance and remove visual imperfections. In contrast, spinels are almost all untreated and this natural beauty is particularly appreciated by collectors.

4.

What are the most desirable spinels on the market?

Spinels come in a range of colours, but highly transparent, vivid red hues tend to fetch the highest prices at auction. In addition to colour, the place of origin can also add value. Many collectors look specifically for fiery red specimens from Burma, or the beautiful rose-coloured gems from the area in current-day Tajikistan, where important specimens were historically mined.

Historically, spinels have been overlooked and therefore considered more affordable but, they are becoming increasingly desirable as top-quality rubies have seen exponential price increases over the past decade, collectors are seeking out alternatives.

 5.

What is the auction record price for a spinel?

In 2015, the Hope Spinel sold for $1.47 million (£962,500) at Bonhams, New Bond Street. This set a new world record price of $30,000 per carat. This was nearly double the previous world record price per carat, set just two years earlier.

Since then, there has been a significant increase in demand for this vibrant and captivating stone. In 2019, an Exceptional Spinel sold for $275,000 in Los Angeles, part of our Lapidary Works of Art, Gemstones, and Minerals sale. Originating from the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan, this spinel is an exceptionally large stone for the species and one which displays the highest degree of qualities most desired by serious collectors.