This is a new favorite in the gemology market today. Found in Sri Lanka and Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Tanzania, Afghanistan and Russia, spinel ranges wildly in color and it can be found in tones of orange, yellow, red, green-blue, gray-blue (also called “Aquagem”) and various shades of purple and violet. There is also a synthetic pink spinel called “Rose zircon” now in the market. It is usually translucent, though there is a black variety that is opaque. The most popular is the red, though the orange-red variety called ‘flame spinel' (a mixture of orange and red tones that produce a beautiful fiery color) is also lovely. Pure Burmese red spinel is the most valued; high quality gems can cost about $3000 per carat weight and sullied reds with brown undertones cost as little as $100 per carat. The set prices for reds are $250-$1300 per carat for 1,2 and 3 carat gems and $320-$2600 per carat for 4 and 5 carat gems. Pink spinel will cost approximately half the price of same-grade reds or even less, depending on the clarity. Usually pinks sell for $150-$1400 per carat for gems less than 3 carats and about $210-$1450 per carat for gems up to 5 carat weight. The blue variety is rare in comparison and will cost about $100-$1250 per carat for gems less than 3 carats and about $150-$2000 per carat for gems of 3, 4 and 5 carats.

This gem is wonderful for making jewelry as it rates 8 on the Moh scale for hardness and is extremely durable, as well as attractive. It has great brilliance which can be further enhanced with good cutting techniques and it is often used as a substitute for the really expensive gems, such as blue sapphires, red rubies and garnets of all colors. Spinel can compete with the brilliance of all these gems but a professional will not mistake the deep color of an authentic good-grade sapphire for the weaker colors of a spinel, so if you are purchasing an expensive sapphire or ruby, test it with an appraiser to see if it is not spinel. It isn't inexpensive, but it is usually a good purchase, as spinel it is never treated or enhanced artificially in any way and the color is genuine. People sometimes mistake it for a synthetic gem because the market is flooded with synthetic reproductions, but this is indeed a natural gem

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