August Birthstone: The Spinel
Those born in August long had the peridot as their only birthstone. Since 2016, an exceptional gem has officially joined the list: the spinel. And that is excellent news, because it is one of the most fascinating — and most unjustly overlooked — stones in gemmology.
The spinel, impostor of royal crowns
For centuries, the finest red spinels were mistaken for rubies. The famous “Black Prince's Ruby” adorning the British Imperial State Crown? A spinel. Only with modern gemmology was this stone recognised for what it is: a gem in its own right, with remarkable brilliance and vivacity of colour.
A stone that is never treated
This is one of the spinel's great strengths: unlike most gems, it undergoes no treatment. Its colour — flamboyant red, vivid Tajikistan pink, deep blue, contemporary grey or delicate mauve — is always 100% natural, exactly as the earth created it. An authenticity that increasingly wins over connoisseurs and young jewellery houses.
How to choose a spinel
- Colour: intense reds and vivid pinks (notably from Tajikistan, a mythical deposit) are the most sought after;
- Origin: Myanmar and Tajikistan produce the most coveted stones;
- Vivacity: a fine spinel “sparkles” — its natural brilliance is one of its signatures.
Which jewel for a spinel?
With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, the spinel is perfectly suited to daily wear, including in a ring. It is a characterful alternative to ruby or sapphire for an original engagement ring — and our stones can be set in bespoke mountings by our partner jeweller.
Discover our red spinels in the red gems collection, our pink Tajikistan spinels among the pink gems, or book an appointment in Paris to see them.
Our birthstone series continues every month — last month, the ruby.
