Spinel belongs to the cubic crystal system and its characteristic crystal shape is an octahedron, which looks like two back-to-back pyramids. Like ruby, spinel is found in alluvial deposits; it ranks 8 on the Mohs scale and has good toughness, making it a durable gem for jewelry.

Is spinel a rare gem?

In addition to beautiful rich reds, spinel can be found in a range of beautiful pastel shades of pink and purple. In fact, the main thing holding back greater recognition for spinel is rarity. Fine spinels are now more rare than rubies.

Are spinels valuable?

Star Spinels are known, but are extremely rare. Certain colors are more valuable, especially reds and strong pinks. Many Spinels have a significant gray secondary hue, and these colors are much less valuable. ... Top Spinels in the 2 to 5 carat size will often sell for $3,000 to $5,000 a carat.