Spinel, magnesium aluminum oxide, is the subject of one of history’s classic hoaxes. The famous Black Prince’s ruby in the British crown was found, upon examination, not to be a ruby but a red spinel valued at about twenty dollars by gemologists in 1940. It is common practice in India to substitute the cheaper spinel for the more expensive ruby. Perhaps for this reason, similar attributed and stories are ascribed to both stones. Spinel may vary in color from red, blue, violet, black green, yellow, orange, brown, white, and nearly colorless.
Synthetic spinels have been in circulation since the 1920s. They may be prepared in any color to imitate other gemstones and often show a better luster than the stones they are made to imitate. The synthetic version of this stone was discovered by accident in the attempt to make a better synthetic sapphire. Synthetic spinel is most often used to imitate aquamarine, but it also appears in a chrysoberyl yellow, morganite pink, sapphire blue, and diamond white. The synthetic version of spinel has acquired many other names, aquagem, emerada, berylite, perigem, hope sapphire, and Brazilian emerald to name a few. The colorless spinel is used as a diamond substitute referred to as alumag, corundolite, Jourado diamond, lustergem, magalux, radient, strongite, and Wesselton simulated diamond. Red spinel has been called Balas ruby for a long time.
Spinel may be used to renew energy and encourage perseverance in difficult tasks. It may also be used to enhance one’s appearance, to increase the positive aspects of one’s personality, and achieve victory while maintaining humility.
Each spinel color has specific abilities. Black spinel is good for grounding energy and providing insights into problems along with the stamina to follow through. Its energy is protective. Blue spinel calms sexual desire, enhances communication, and increases clairaudience and the ability to channel. Dark Blue spinel enhances psychic ability and intuition. Violet spinel encourages spiritual development and enlightenment. Brown spinel will clear the aura and disperse muddiness. Colorless spinel enhances visions and encourages one on the path of enlightenment. Green spinel stimulates compassion, devotion, kindness, and love. Yellow spinel encourages the intellect and personal power. Orange spinel increases creativity, balances the emotions, and stimulates fertility and sexual pleasure. Red spinel provides the user with physical strength and vitality.