Gemstone Knowledge

SOOKJAI KNOWLEDGE

Gemstone Knowledge

A considered guide to gemstones — from colour and cut to origin, treatment and the stories behind each stone.

Spinel

8 articles

Origin · Spinel

28 August 2026

Vietnamese Spinel: Colour, Character and Origin

Vietnamese spinel is famous for the vivid cobalt-bearing blues of Luc Yen, but the origin also produces pink, red, purple and many different expressions of blue. Explore the landscape, colour range and character behind one of spinel’s most distinctive modern sources.

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Origin · Spinel

28 August 2026

Burmese Spinel: Colour, History and Origin

Burmese spinel is known for vivid red and hot pink, but Myanmar’s spinel story is far broader than one colour or the modern Jedi name. Explore Mogok, Namya, the history behind red spinel, and why origin should not be confused with a colour grade.

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Origin · Spinel

28 August 2026

Mahenge Spinel: Colour, Character and Origin

Mahenge is famous for vivid pink-to-red spinel with an electric, lively character, but the Tanzanian origin produces more than one colour. Explore the discovery that built its reputation, the market meaning of “Mahenge colour,” and why origin should not be confused with a quality grade.

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Colour · Spinel

28 August 2026

Jedi Spinel: What Does the Trade Name Really Mean?

Jedi spinel is associated with some of the most vivid red-to-pink spinel in the market: saturated, bright, lively and without a heavy dark face-up appearance. Learn where the name came from, how the trade uses it, and how the more defined AIGS Type Jedi framework differs.

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Colour · Spinel

28 August 2026

Cobalt Spinel: What Does “Cobalt” Actually Mean?

Cobalt spinel is more specific than a blue spinel that simply contains cobalt. Learn how cobalt creates blue in spinel, how iron modifies that colour, why Vietnam became important, and why laboratories consider colour, chemistry and spectroscopy together.

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Spinel · Treatment

27 August 2026

Natural Spinel: Is Spinel Usually Treated?

Natural spinel is commonly encountered without treatment, but spinel can still be heated, fracture-filled or subjected to specialised diffusion treatments. Learn what is common, what has been documented, and why untreated status should be understood rather than assumed.

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Spinel

27 August 2026

What Is Spinel?

Spinel was mistaken for ruby for centuries, but it is a distinct gemstone with its own mineral identity, colours and market. Learn what spinel is, why it comes in so many hues, how durable it is, why treatment is relatively uncommon, and why fine spinel now stands firmly on its own.

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