Pink Spinel Ring

Pink Spinel bezeled in 18kt with accent diamonds in the band of leaves. Pink spinel is 6mm x 7mm. Size is 6 3/4

Spinel- is a good candidate for the title of “History’s Most Underappreciated Gem.” Some ancient mines that supplied gems for royal courts from Rome to China produced spinel, but it was usually confused with better-known stones like ruby and sapphire.

In ancient times, the mines of central and southeast Asia yielded exceptionally large spinel crystals. These fine stones became known as Balas rubies, and some of them were the treasured property of kings and emperors, often passing through many hands as spoils of war. As a result, some of the world’s most illustrious “rubies” are actually spinel.

One of the most famous examples is the so-called “Black Prince’s ruby.” This historic crimson-red gem is set in England’s Imperial State Crown and displayed in the Tower of London. Smoothly polished and roughly octagonal in shape, it was probably mined in the mountains of Afghanistan. It first appeared in the historical records of fourteenth-century Spain, and was owned by a succession of Moorish and Spanish Kings before Edward, Prince of Wales—the “Black Prince”— received the stone in 1367 as payment for a battle victory.

Since then, many other English monarchs—including Henry VIII—have cherished the gem. It’s outlasted them all, surviving fires, attempted theft, and World War II bombing raids, to become—with the Koh-i-Noor diamond—one of the centerpieces of England’s Crown Jewels.

Another large spinel in the Crown Jewels, the “Timur ruby,” weighs over 350 carats. It, too, has a checkered history. Several Persian inscriptions carved into the gem testify to its age.

Gardening is a passion for me and I come from a long line of gardeners on my mother’s side. So it was natural I bring nature to my pieces. Often I abstract the imagery and a pattern will become the band of a ring or the texture on a pendant. My fascination with historical jewelry finds its way into my pieces as well.
I hand carve my tiny pieces out of wax and cast them in the lost wax casting process. They are then hand constructed with various metals and unusual stones.

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This ring can be sized up to two sizes up or down. Best way to determine your ring size is to take a visit to a jewelry store and have them help you. With wide rings use a wide sizer and narrow rings a narrow sizer. You can always contact me for help. smatasick@bellsouth.net

Exchanges only:

I will be happy to exchange the item for another of equal value. The item should be returned at the customer’s expense within 10 days in original unworn condition. I will assess condition once it is returned. If this is a gift and the item cannot be returned in 10days please contact me at, smatasick@bellsouth.net