Spinel is the favorite of many gems traders and collectors because of its brilliance, hardness and wide range of spectacular colors. When a sparkling spinel is presented to you, it is almost impossible to resist the temptation of making it yours. Besides exquisite rich reds, spinel can be found in a range of gorgeous pastel tones of pink. Of particular interest is a vivid hot pink. It is one of the most spectacular gemstone colors seen in any species at all. Spinel also comes in beautiful blue tones called cobalt spinel, but these are very unusual.

Fine spinels are now rarer than the rubies they used to simulate. Curiously, they are also more affordable. In the gem world, being too rare can be a disadvantage because so few people even get a chance to develop a affection for the varieties in question. Much gem-quality spinel is now produced synthetically. Because spinels made in a laboratory are often used for imitation birthstone rings, many people think 'synthetic' when they hear the term spinel. Often enough, they have never even seen the real thing.

In addition to its attractive colors, spinel is a hard, tough stone that is suitable for daily wear in any type of jewelry. It will always be popular with customers who like beautiful and uncommon gems. It is most often faceted in oval, round, or cushion shapes and is not currently found in calibrated sizes due to its rarity. Apart from Burma, spinel is found in Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, Thailand and Tadzhikistan, all in very little quantity.