Spinel Carat Weight

The value of spinels increase considerably by their carat weight. Most spinels weigh under 5 carats. Larger spinels are very rare and therefore more costly.

Spinel Cut

Due to their rarity, spinels are typically cut in non-standard shapes to maintain as much of the gemstone’s weight as possible. Mixed-cut ovals and cushion-cut shapes are the most common for the spinel.

Spinel Clarity

Inclusions are not as common in spinels as they are in many other gemstones, making the majority of spinels very clear. Spinels that do have visible inclusions are less valuable than spinels with no inclusions visible to the naked eye, though they are often just as beautiful.

Spinel Origins

Spinels are found in metamorphic mineral and mafic igneous rocks, which are very rare.

The majority of the ruby-red colored spinels originate from Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Spinels in a variety of other colors are also mined in Afghanistan, Madagascar, Tajikistan, and Tanzania.

Spinel Meaning

The stone of joy and hope, spinels represent revitalization and are believed to possess holistic qualities that energize the body, mind, and spirit.

The spinel is also the birthstone of the month of August.

Spinel Durability

Ranking 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, spinels are one of the hardest gemstones and are very resistant to scratches, and able to withstand shock. This makes the spinel one of the best gemstones for everyday wear.

Spinel Enhancements

Treating spinels to enhance their colour is a rare occurrence, so most spinels showcase their natural colour tones. In recent years, however, it has become more popular to fill in surface cracks to further increase the spinel’s durability. At Gemdaia, we only deal with untreated, natural spinels.