Spinel
Strength & Calm
The beautiful Spinel is found in a wealth of rainbow colours and has given its name to its own mineral group, Spinel. For centuries, the gemstone was mistakenly identified as ruby, and its natural perfection has earned it the name “Nat Thwe” in Burma – directly translated as “polished by the spirits”.
The stone is best known for its red and black shades.
Here you can learn more about the fascinating Spinel.
SHOP SPINEL JEWELLERY
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SYMBOLISM & SPIRITUALITY
Spinel is associated with calm, strength, energy, and creativity and is said to repel negative energy and bring its wearer more into balance.
The stone is also believed to strengthen mental awareness and help identify sensations in the body that feel unbalanced, as well as bring suppressed feelings to light.
Learn more about symbolism in our large gemstone encyclopedia
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR JEWELRY WITH SPINEL
Spinel is a hard gemstone and is easy to keep beautiful for many years to come.
Clean your jewellery with Spinel in lukewarm water with mild soap and a soft brush or cloth. Avoid exposing your jewellery with Spinel to high heat, as this can cause cracks in the stone. Spinel gemstones can withstand ultrasonic cleaning.
Remember, you can always have your Carré jewellery professionally cleaned in our shop in Copenhagen – completely free of charge.
THE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY GIFT
Many gemstones are associated with a special anniversary. Jewellery with Spinel is given as a gift on the 22nd wedding anniversary, also called an Alliance wedding. The symbolism of Spinel and its story of calm, strength, and the intensifying of feelings make a piece of jewellery set with Spinel an especially thoughtful gift for your wedding anniversary.
HISTORICAL MEANING
Spinel has throughout history been used in jewellery and was before the development of modern gemmology often regarded as either ruby or garnet. In fact, it turns out that some of history’s most famous “rubies” are not rubies at all, but spinels.
One of the best-known examples is Black Prince’s Ruby, which is set in England’s Imperial State Crown and can be seen in the Tower of London. This stone first appears in historical records in the 14th century in Spain and was owned by Spanish kings before Edward, Prince of Wales – also known as the Black Prince – received it in 1367 as payment for winning a battle.
The earliest known finds of spinel used as a gemstone date back to around 100 BC and were found in Buddhist graves in Afghanistan.
SPINELS GEMOLOGY
The spinel stone gives its name to the mineral group Spinel and consists of magnesium, aluminium, and oxygen, with colours that come from chromium, iron, and cobalt. Most spinel gemstones form at high temperatures during continental collisions and are therefore found in Afghanistan, Thailand, East Africa, Sri Lanka, and in Himalayan regions such as Burma and Vietnam.
When measuring a gemstone's hardness, the Mohs Hardness Scale is used. The scale ranges from 1 to 10, where 10 is the hardest – here lies the diamond, which is the hardest gemstone. Spinel is a hard gemstone, measuring 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
ALL JEWELLERY WITH SPINEL
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ROSE QUARTZ
Love & well-being
RUBY
Love & passion
SAPPHIRE
Love & wisdom
GARNET
Passion & self-confidence