SEDAGEMS

BLACK SPINEL

These are natural stones mined and cut in Thailand. They are well polished and ready to be set in jewelery.

Higher luster than normal Spinel (higher RI)

Size 15 x 10 x 5 mm app

Weight cts app

Note we have some black spinel rough in our sister store here QUALITY ROUGH

Black spinel is not that well-known among the gem world, its features make it the ideal choice for an opaque black gem. These days, where most gems undergo routine enhancement treatments, black spinel  requiries nothing more than cutting and polishing to bring out its inner beauty. If you want a totally natural and untreated black gemstone – black spinel is the one for you!

Gemmology matters: Spinel (MgAl2O4) is a mineral similar to corundum (Al2O3) and is often found in ruby and sapphire bearing areas. Spinel comes in a variety of colours but the relatively rare opaque black variety is only found in a few areas – traditionally Thailand is the main source but Australia is also a major producer. With a hardness of 8.0, uniform nature, high reflectance and lack of cleavage, black spinel makes excellent gem material. Black spinel has been often called “black sapphire” or “nin” in Thailand. Miners here often call it Blackjack and regard it as an indicator of good sapphire being present in the wash.

Mythology and Lore: There is a wealth of mythology surrounding black spinel. It is believed to protect its owner from harm, to reconcile differences, and to console sadness. Some say that black spinel is the stone for people born on Saturday and it is the recommended gift for the 22nd wedding anniversary.  While in Western culture, black may be associated with evil or mourning; in other cultures, black may represent power, fertility or wisdom . In any case, black is the essence of style and sophistication with a timeless quality that means it will never go out of fashion.