Spinel: The Newest August Birthstone

Prepare to usher in a new August birthstone: Spinel is on the list. The resplendent spinel gemstone is the newest addition to August’s technicolor lineup of birthstones. As a refresher, peridot and sardonyx are both perfectly fine birthstones for August, but they can be hard to find in luxury jewelry paired with their very particular looks. Peridot is a vibrant shade of green that only works with some looks and designs, while sardonyx is rarely found in luxury jewelry designs. Spinel, on the other hand, is a versatile and wholly underappreciated gemstone. Depending on the variant, spinel can take on multiple different colors from ruby red to cobalt blue, making it a precious gemstone that can fit in virtually any luxury design. Spinel has a hardness of 8, which makes it perfect for daily wear, but the crystalline structure sparkles and gives it the elegance of a precious gemstone. Great for casual affairs, but also found in grand ballrooms, spinel is able to shapeshift to fit any outfit, design, or event. With the myriad colors of spinel to choose from, the gemstone lends itself to creativity and bold fashion choices.

Spinel, History’s Doppelganger

This sweet stone has been criminally underrated throughout history. Spinel has been a trickster of sorts over the years and was wrongly attributed as rubies or sapphires in royal jewelry until it was differentiated in 1783 by mineralogist Jean Baptiste Louis Rome de Lisle. Before this identification, spinel was nearly indistinguishable from other stones, depending on the color. Just to show how similar they appeared, the 14th century British Imperial Crown’s world-famous “Black Prince Ruby” is actually a gorgeous red spinel gemstone. Even more impressive is the so-called “Timur Ruby,” a misnamed polished spinel that originated as a royal jewel in the Persian court, has passed through 5 different empires spanning history, and holds inscriptions from its past beholders. Spinel originates from southeast Asia, the largest of which were often gifted in jewelry to emperors and kings. In Burma, spinels are said to be so perfect that they are “nat thwe,” or “polished by the spirits.” It’s understandable why this mesmerizing and historically underrated stone was added to August’s official birthstone roster.

Spinel with a Side of Diamonds

Lauren K is at it again with organic shapes and gorgeous natural gemstones. The Gemma Pink Spinel 5 Stone Earrings by Lauren K speak volumes to what can be done with our favorite underdog gemstone. The designer is known for working with unusual stones and showcasing a gemstone’s natural beauty in the refining process, giving the piece a natural feel while still maintaining the elegance of a luxury jewelry brand. Each of the 5 spinel stones in the drop earrings is slightly different shades and shapes, held by a few gold prongs to show off the spinel stones' natural facets. The fourth stone adds a touch of class with a delicate pave of brilliant round white diamonds. The yellow gold earrings with the pink spinel gemstones add a wave of warmth to this piece, a perfect pairing for an August summertime sunset.

The Gentleman’s Spinel

Don’t think we would forget about the boys. The spinel is not just all about bubblegum pink and white diamonds. When we said “versatile,” we meant it. Look no further than the Black Spinel Skull Cufflinks by Deakin & Francis for an edgy twist to a night on the town. This legendary design is just one of the many unique cufflink designs made by the experts at Deakin & Francis. When it comes to men’s accessories, they have quite a few challenges to the form and interesting ideas up their sleeves. These cufflinks are veritably covered in pitch-black spinel, one of the many colors the gemstone can be. Each skull holds a web of black spinel, showcasing the molded silver detail. They are set in dark sterling silver and boast glowing red ruby eyes and a moveable jaw mechanism. He’ll make statements at every turn with these jaw-dropping black spinel skull cufflinks.

Photo by Gary Yost on Unsplash
Photo by Zephir Brush on Unsplash