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Spinel

The Black Prince's Ruby. The Timur Ruby. For centuries, spinel, the great imposter, masqueraded as ruby in Europe's crown jewels.

Spinel
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Research

Metal Sulfide in Spinel

A pink spinel hosts a richly textured, opaque metallic inclusion.

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Suspended Pargasite Crystal in Pink Spinel

A euhedral prismatic pargasite crystal is identified in pink spinel.

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Abstracts; Fall 1991

This article, from the Fall 1991 issue of Gems & Gemology, is a compilation of abstracts of important gemology-related articles published outside of Gems & Gemology.

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Abstracts; Winter 1991

This article, from the Winter 1991 issue of Gems & Gemology, is a compilation of abstracts of important gemology-related articles published outside of Gems & Gemology.

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Spinel Quality Factors

Learn about the factors that make spinel so desirable.

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Spinel History and Lore

Spinel is a good candidate for the title of “History’s Most Underappreciated Gem.” Some ancient mines that supplied gems for royal courts from Rome to China produced spinel, but it was usually confused with better-known stones like ruby and sapphire.

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Spinel Journey

The Black Prince’s Ruby. The Timur Ruby. For centuries, spinel, the great imposter, masqueraded as ruby in Europe’s crown jewels

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Spinel Description

The spinel used in jewelry is a small part of a group of minerals that share the same crystal structure. Not all of them form transparent crystals suitable for jewelry use, however. Spinel offers a range of hues, from orange to intense “stoplight” red, vibrant pink, and all shades of purple, blue, and violet through bluish green.

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GIA's Gübelin Gem Project: Spinel

Found in nearly every color – most notably red, pink and blue – spinels are popular gemstones because of their abundance, moderate cost and attractiveness.

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Spinel Care and Cleaning Guide

Learn about spinel's durability and how to care for your spinel jewelry.

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“Star of David” Spinel Twin Crystal with Multiphase Inclusions from Mogok

A rare spinel, featuring a Star of David pattern and multiphase inclusions, is examined in Bangkok.

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Color Modification of Spinel by Nickel Diffusion: A New Treatment

Reports on a newly discovered treatment process for producing a deep blue color in natural spinel and proposes identification criteria.

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