How to clean it
Warm soapy water. Durable and safe in ultrasonic.
Red, pink, blue, purple, black
Spinel
The birthstone for August.
Is Spinel a birthstone?
Yes. Spinel is the modern birthstone for August.
Properties
Composition
Magnesium aluminium oxide (MgAl₂O₄)
Hardness (Mohs)
8
Crystal system
Cubic
Colour
Red, pink, blue, purple, black
Mined in
Myanmar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tajikistan
Worth knowing
Several famous "rubies" in the British Crown Jewels — including the Black Prince's Ruby — are spinel.
History
Recognised as distinct from ruby only in 1783.
Practical
Caring for Spinel
How to tell it is real
Historically confused with ruby, and several crown rubies turned out to be spinel. Spinel is singly refractive and ruby is not, which settles it under a loupe.
One general rule covers most mistakes: never store stones loose together. Diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale scratches everything else you own, and it does not need much contact to do it.
What that hardness means in practice
Hard enough for daily wear in any setting. It will outlast the metal it is set in.
Traditional associations
Spinel is traditionally associated with renewal and recovering energy after depletion. In chakra systems it is placed at the Root, Heart, and in elemental correspondence it is assigned to Fire.
These are cultural associations recorded across various traditions, not claims about physical effects. The composition and hardness above are measurable; this paragraph is folklore, and worth reading as such.
Questions
What is Spinel made of?
Magnesium aluminium oxide (MgAl₂O₄), crystallising in the cubic system.
Which month is Spinel the birthstone for?
August.
Where does Spinel come from?
Myanmar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tajikistan.
How do I clean Spinel?
Warm soapy water. Durable and safe in ultrasonic.
How can I tell if Spinel is real?
Historically confused with ruby, and several crown rubies turned out to be spinel. Spinel is singly refractive and ruby is not, which settles it under a loupe.
Can I wear it every day?
At 8 on the Mohs scale, yes — it resists everyday scratching.