Sure, the name isn’t particularly glamorous as, let’s say, a sapphire or a ruby. But don’t let that fool you. The Spinel is all gem, baby.
A traditionally lesser-loved stone, the spinel is fast capturing the attention of the contemporary fine jewellery market. The Hope Spinel sold for £962,500 at Bonhams in September 2015; a new world record for a spinel. The stone once belonged to famous gem collector Henry Philip Hope and had not been on sale for 98 years.In ancient times, southeast Asia’s mines yielded exceptional large spinel crystals, which became the treasured property of kings and emperors, often passing through many hands as spoils of war. – GIA
Source: The Telegraph
