Grey Spinel: The Understated Gem High Jewellery Is Fighting Over
Ten years ago, nobody was asking for grey spinel. Today it is one of the stones most sought after by high jewellery designers and lovers of contemporary pieces. Its hue — a silvery grey with undertones now bluish, now lavender — offers an elegant neutrality no other natural gem can provide.
Two stones, two formats
We have just taken in two natural grey spinels. The first, 3.46 carats in an octagonal cut (8.65 × 6.77 × 4.5 mm), is an ideal format for an everyday ring with real character. The second, 5.51 carats in an oval cut (12.24 × 9.94 × 6.53 mm), comes from Burma, the historic cradle of the world's finest spinels — a rare weight for this colour.
A stone that is never treated
Like all spinels, both stones are strictly untreated: no heating, no diffusion. Spinel is one of the last great gems whose colour is still 100% natural — an argument that carries ever more weight with buyers attentive to authenticity.
Why does grey appeal so much?
Grey spinel works with every metal — yellow gold, rose gold, platinum — and enhances pared-back designs. Set as a solitaire, it offers a sophisticated alternative to diamond, with a personality connoisseurs spot immediately. Its hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale also makes it a stone perfectly suited to everyday wear.
