Spinel

BSpinel is an oxide of magnesium and aluminum, identified by the chemical formula MgAl₂O₄. Depending on the presence of iron, chromium or vanadium, the shades vary, which further complicates the identification of this stone. Also note that there are synthetic spinels.

we know:

- The red spinel is an extremely sought-after variety in jewelry.

- The rare spinelle Mahenge, from bright pink to pinkish red, is also very popular.

- The pink spinel easily confused with tourmaline rose.

- The black spinel is particularly widespread.

- The spinelle gris allows you to create beautiful contemporary jewelry.

- The blue spinel, rarer, takes on various shades and can even tend towards purple or mauve.

- The green spinel is less sought after than more traditional colors in jewelry.

Alongside his créations uniques, the Bonnot house offers thepurchase of spinels among other precious and fine stones. Very rarely heated, the spinel stone can contain small inclusions, giving it a certain charm, which can be appreciated by connoisseurs.

However, the most coveted spinels are particularly pure and clear, possessing a vitreous luster that gives a beautiful natural shine. Note that this can be accentuated by size accuracy.

The price of spinel per carat depends on the number of carats and other elements, of course, such as the quality of the stone and, sometimes, its origin. Typically, the red spinel price is the highest. It remains more affordable than ruby.

Blue spinels can be expensive, given their rarity, especially blue spinel-cobalt.Idem for Mahenge spinel. The most affordable prices are, with some exceptions of course, those of black spinel and gray spinel.

Compared to precious stones, the price of spinel is certainly more attractive, while presenting superb quality and a generous volume for jewelry creation: €1,000 for 3 carats, €1,500 for 5 carats…However, with varieties growing in popularity, or particularly exceptional, the prices of some spinels can be quite high, for example, more than €5,000 for 2 carats, more than €10,000 for 2.5 carats…

Spinel is a very hard gemstone (8 on the Mohs scale), known for its resistance to shocks and scratches. It comes in different colors. The best known is spinelle rouge, which can look a lot like rubis. Several famous rubies actually turned out to be spinels, such as the Timur ruby ​​and the Black Prince ruby, British crown jewels.

Recently, the black spinel rings and, more generally, black spinel jewelry has become trendy. Spinel has been used to create jewelry for millennia, but without necessarily knowing it.

‍How to recognize a spinel ? Before 1783, it was long confused with other stones and one could easily be mistaken! It is strongly recommended to contact a professional. Maison Bonnot can create your bague avec spinelle, but also authenticate a gem. Note that all our stones offered for purchase are certified by a laboratory.

Spinel is mined in mines in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Tanzania, among other countries. Traditionally a symbol of courage, the stone has benefits against stress and negative thoughts (according to lithotherapy).

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