Spinel

Wholesale spinel — buying guide for the trade

Long misidentified as ruby in historic crown jewels. Now recognised as a serious gem in its own right, especially Burmese reds, Mahenge pinks and cobalt blues.

Key properties

Mineral

Spinel (MgAl₂O₄)

Hardness

8 (Mohs)

Key origins

Myanmar (Mogok), Tanzania (Mahenge), Vietnam, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka

Typical treatments

None standard — heat is uncommon and disclosed

What to look for when buying wholesale

• Untreated by default — a major advantage when selling to disclosure-conscious buyers.
• Mahenge hot-pink and Burmese red are the headline collectors' colours.
• Cobalt-blue spinel is one of the most expensive blue stones in the trade per carat.

Certification guidance

GIA, SSEF, Gübelin — for any cobalt-blue stone or Mahenge claim, a lab report is essential.

Treatment disclosure

Almost always untreated. Heat treatment exists but is uncommon and must be disclosed.

Typical wholesale price tiers

Prices are indicative wholesale-to-trade ranges. Actual offers depend on origin, certification and supply at the time of enquiry.

Cuts and shapes

Spinel is faceted into the same core shapes seen across coloured stones and diamonds — round, oval, cushion, emerald-cut, pear, radiant, princess, asscher, marquise and heart — plus antique cuts such as old mine and old European, most associated with period diamond jewellery. See the full Cut Library →