August Birthstone: 10 Fun Facts (Spinel)
August is here so we want to celebrate our favourite August birthstone, “Spinel”. Here are 10 fun facts to make you fall in love with this stunning gemstone…
Diverse Colours: Spinel boasts a rich spectrum of colours, including reds resembling rubies and blues akin to sapphires. We have some gorgeous grey and purple spinels in our gem collection just waiting to be set into magical pieces!
Historic Gems: Spinels have often been mistaken for precious stones like rubies, with one notable example adorning the British Crown, named the "Black Prince's Ruby" but it is in fact a spinel.
Protective Energies: Throughout history & cultures, spinel has been believed to guard against negativity, symbolise protection and promote strength, vitality, and courage.
August Birthstone Pair: Spinel, shares the spotlight with peridot in August.
High Refractive Index: Spinel possesses a relatively high refractive index, contributing to it’s impressive brilliance and sparkle.
Durable Hardness: Spinels possess a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, making them quite durable and suitable for everyday wear in jewellery.
Elton John: The iconic musician Elton John has a fascination with gemstones, including spinels. He once acquired a rare 52-carat pink spinel, which he later had set in a custom-made ring.
22nd Wedding Anniversary: Spinel is often associated with the 22nd wedding anniversary, a meaningful choice to celebrate over two decades of marriage.
Geological sources: Spinels can be mined in many countries although two of the primary sources of spinel production are Myanmar (Burma) and Sri Lanka.
Mystical Origins: Spinel forms in various geological settings, including marble, metamorphic rocks, and igneous rocks such as basalts and kimberlites. However, what makes spinel truly intriguing is its presence in certain types of meteorites. Scientists have identified spinel in meteorites, providing insights into the mineral's potential formation in space and its journey to Earth. This cosmic connection adds an extra layer of wonder to the story of spinel.
Erin loves to work with Spinels. At the time of writing this post, we are currently holding just one stunning blood red example (see below). Due to spinel’s wearability, this stunning ring could be purchased as a stunning alternative engagement ring. It is currently a size K but can be resized to suit the wearer free of charge!
Erin also has some spinels in her gemstone collection awaiting selection for a new design or bespoke commission. Pop in or contact us to find out more. Please note bespoke commissions start at £500 & take approximately 15 weeks (from the deposit payment date) to handcraft.
