Spinel

Called one of history's most underappreciated gems, spinel is a stunning gem that can rival that of precious rubies. To the untrained eye, it can be easy to mistake the two beautiful jewels for one another. In fact, there is a spinel gem, once thought to be a ruby, set in England’s Imperial State Crown. This gem, now known as the "Black Prince Ruby" is displayed in the Tower of London. 

As of 2016, spinel sits alongside peridot as the official birthstones for August. This colorful gem is available in a wide array of colors, sizes, and cuts. As well as being absolutely beautiful, spinel rates an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a good choice for daily wear. Browse Susan's collection of hand-selected spinel gems here!