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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.
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Star Spinel with Four and Six Rays
Lotus Gemology receives submissions of star stones on a regular basis, so when we first saw the specimen shown here, it appeared to be one among many of our usual stones to test.
Designs from Erica Courtney
Erica Courtney has been adorning Hollywood stars for the red carpet for decades. Her eye for color and bringing out a stone’s beauty are immediately apparent.
Interview with a Kenyan Miner and Dealer
Miriam Kamau, owner of Mimo Gems Traders Ltd. in Nairobi, transformed from an office assistant to a dealer and miner to a representative of her country on the international stage of the colored gemstone trade.
Update on Gemstone Mining in Northern Mozambique
Recounts an expedition to Mozambique’s important deposits of ruby, spinel, and tourmaline, which have yet to be fully explored.
Synthetic Sapphire and Synthetic Spinel Doublets
Unusual doublets created from two different synthetics are revealed at the Carlsbad laboratory.
Etch Marks, Negative Crystals, and Etch Tubes in Spinel from Madagascar
A spinel from Madagascar, mixed in with a parcel of blue sapphire, exhibited an array of internal features.
Seek the World’s Most Vivid Blue Spinel with GIA Field Gemologists
Join GIA’s field gemologists as they seek Vietnam’s exotic sky-blue spinel.
Quench-Crackled Blue Synthetic Spinel
A synthetic spinel has undergone quench-cracking treatment, possibly to make it appear as a natural specimen.
“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.
GIA Lab Reports on a New Cobalt Diffusion Treatment of Natural Spinel
Report on a new cobalt diffusion treatment of natural spinel, using analysis of inclusions, UV-Vis-NIR and EDXRF spectroscopy, and LA-ICP-MS.
Tsavorite Garnet and Mahenge Red Spinel
A discussion of the current demand for tsavorite and spinel in today’s market.
