Black Spinel

	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2011 Item : #418 Design : Victoria Regent Cut (Doug Menadue) Origin : Rubyvale, Central Queensland, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 3.3 carats Clarity : Opaque Size : 9 x 9 x 5.5 mm Price : 240 Comments : Here is a fine Australian black spinel from the Central Queensland sapphire gemfields near Rubyvale. Black spinel is without equal when it comes to black gemstones. The colour is pure black with no secondary tones. The lustrous glossy polish is like the finest ebony piano key and creates a feeling of being able to look into the stone. If you are looking for a black gemstone, look no further. * In terms of inclusions, there are two very very tiny specks on the surface of two facets on the crown. They are smaller then a pin prick and do not detract from the overall appearance of the gem. You really need a magnifying glass to spot them. I have a feeling that these might be very very tiny zircon crystals as I know they do occur in black spinel and sapphires from this location. However you'd really need a microscope and someone, a gemologist, who knows what they are looking at. SEE THE ORIGINAL ROUGH STONE HERE
	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2011 Item : #321 Design : Emerald Cut Origin : Rubyvale, Central Queensland, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 4.5 carats Clarity : Opaque Size : 7 x 11 x 5 mm Price : 320 Comments : This beautiful gemstone is a lustrous black spinel cut in the classic Emerald Cut design. Black spinel takes an exceptionally glossy polish with the colour being a pure black. Black spinel is rarely seen precision cut, especially in a large size like this gemstone. A different and intriguing gem. SEE THE ORIGINAL ROUGH STONE HERE

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	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2012 Item : #468 Design : Tut's Pyramid (Jeff Graham) Origin : Weld River, Tasmania, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 2 carats Clarity : Opaque Size : 7 x 7 x 5 mm Price : SOLD Comments : A beautiful, highly glossy black spinel from the Weld River in Tasmania. This is another location in Australia where very fine black spinel can be found. Black Spinel is the best material you can get if you are looking for a pure black gemstone. A very fine gem!
	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2012 Item : #452 Design : Flat Oval Inlay Origin : Rubyvale, Central Queensland, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 5 carats Clarity : Opaque Size : 10 x 12 mm Price : SOLD Comments : WOW! What a combination... black and gold! You've probably seen this style of ring before, its often worn as a man's ring. Usually the black stone is onyx, which in the majority of cases is simply agate that has been dyed black (yes, they do dye stones especially agates in many colours). Naturally occurring black gemstones are very few and the best of the lot is black spinel. Black spinel is a pure jet black, its hard and takes an incredible polish. I cut this gem to replace a stone that had fallen out of a gold ring. I had to cut the oval shape freehand in order to get the stone to fit the space for it. The end result is a beautiful stone that really sets the ring apart. I have included some "action" shots to show you how the stone was cut.
	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2012 Item : #449 Design : Asscher Cut Origin : Rubyvale, Central Queensland, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 2.3 carats Clarity : Opaque Size : 7 x 7 x 5.5 mm Price : SOLD Comments : I do like black spinels! If you want to see just how lustrous and glossy a gemstone can be, check out a bespoke black spinel. These gems are really beautiful, without equal when it comes to black gemstones.
	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2011 Item : #413 Design : Victoria Regent Cut (Doug Menadue) Origin : Rubyvale, Central Queensland, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 7.5 carats Clarity : Opaque Size : 11.7 x 11.7 x 7.3 mm Price : SOLD Comments : When it comes to black gemstones, black spinel is par excellence. The incredibly glossy lustre and polish of black spinel is superb and something to behold. The colour is true black, no dark greens or dark blues here. Black spinel is hard, being 8 on the Moh scale so it is ideal as a jewelry stone. Large spinel such as this one are very scarce, generally being found in the rough in smaller sizes. Some of the best black spinel is found in Australia on the Central Queensland sapphire gemfields around Rubyvale and in Tasmania. The beauty of black spinel is perfectly suited to my classical design, the Victoria Regent cut. It works well in this design and the flash and reflections of the glossy polished facets is such that it creates a sense of transparency in being able to see into the stone. Black spinel is something special and this gemstone is a fine example. Imagine this gemstone set in white gold or platinum surrounded by diamonds... breathtaking! SEE THE ORIGINAL ROUGH STONE HERE
	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2011 Item : #322 Design : Swirl Dutch (Jeff Graham) Origin : Rubyvale, Central Queensland, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 6.7 carats Clarity : Opaque Size : 11 x 11 x 7.5 mm Price : SOLD Comments : A big beautiful black spinel from the Central Queensland sapphire gemfields. This beauty is cut in a facinating design that features a swirling motion. It has a dome (hi-top) style crown and is really something special to see. A lovely black spinel gemstone! SEE THE ORIGINAL ROUGH STONE HERE
	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2011 Item : #376 Design : Step Cut Briolette (Glenn & Martha Vargas) Origin : Rubyvale, Central Queensland, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 2.2 carats each Clarity : Opaque Size : 10 x 5 mm Price : SOLD Comments : A special request order by a customer for a pair of step cut briolettes resulted in these little beauties. They are for a pair of drop earring and certainly add a wonderful finishing touch. SEE THE ORIGINAL ROUGH STONE HERE
	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2011 Item : #324 Design : Mini Mint (Jeff Graham) Origin : Rubyvale, Central Queensland, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 1.8 carats each Clarity : Opaque Size : 7 x 7 x 5 mm Price : SOLD Comments : A wonderful matched pair of round black spinels. The design is basically a round brilliant style. These gemstones are the beautiful glossy pure black that is the hallmark of black spinel. These are ideally suited for earrings. SEE THE ORIGINAL ROUGH STONE HERE
	Stone : Black Spinel Cut By : Doug Menadue, 2011 Item : #318 Design : Antique Round 1910 (John Broadfoot) Origin : Rubyvale, Central Queensland, Australia Treatments : None Weight : 3.24 carats Clarity : Opaque Size : 8 x 8 x 6.5 mm Price : SOLD Comments : This is an unusual gemstone and something that you don't often see, certainly not one that has been precision cut like this beauty. It is a black spinel that has been cut in a classic round design. It is pure black and opaque... it is not transparent at all. Being spinel it is quite hard and durable and takes a very glossy shiny polish. Most black stones, such as black onyx and black diamonds (yes, you can get natural black diamonds but the vast majority of commerical black diamonds...) have been treated either by irradiation, heating or have been dyed. Black spinels are completely natural and have not been treated in any way. If you are looking for a black gemstone, black spinel is for you! SEE THE ORIGINAL ROUGH STONE HERE

Information For precious and semi precious gemstones

Stone : Black Spinel
Moh's Hardness : 8
Origin Locations : Rubyvale, Central Queensland sapphire fields, Australia; Burma; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Tanzania; Nigeria; Thailand
Treatments : None
Clarity : Opaque
Color : Black
Cleavage : Indistinct
Crystal System : (Cubic), octahedron, twins, rhombic dodecahedron
Chemical Composition : (Mg,Fe) Al2O4
Refractive Index (RI) : N/A
Density : 3.63-3.90

Comments : Black spinels are a true member of the spinel family but whereas the coloured spinels like red, blues, etc are transparent, black spinel is opaque. This is the same as black tourmaline. Black spinel is also known as Pleonaste and Ceylonite. The black spinel that comes from the Central Queensland sapphire fields is a very pure black and takes a glossy shiny polish, though it is very messy to cut!

Most black stones in the marketplace, such as black onyx and black diamonds (yes, you can get natural black diamonds but the vast majority of commerical black diamonds...) have been treated either by irradiation, heating or have been dyed. Black spinels are completely natural and have not been treated in any way. Jet is another black stone and has often been used in mourning jewelry however it is quite soft at 2.5 - 4 on the Moh's hardness scale.

If you are looking for a good black gemstone that hasn't been treated and is suitable for jewelry then black spinel is for you.

Bespoke Gems is home to a beautiful collection of fine handcut gemstones. These lovely coloured gems have been precision custom cut from such precious and semi precious gemstones as amethyst, ametrine, aquamarine, beryl, black spinel, blue topaz, carnelian, chalcedony, chrysoberyl, chrysoprase, asscher cut citrine, garnet, lapis lazuli, peridot, rose de france amethyst, rose quartz, ruby and zoisite, sage green quartz, sapphire, smokey quartz, topaz, asscher cut tourmaline, rubellite tourmaline, zircon and many others. All gem designs have been optimized to bring out the best in the gemstone and cover a wide range of contemporary and traditional designs, such as the classic asscher cut. Bespoke Gems also has educational articles on the art of gem cutting and what to look for when buying a gem. Please enjoy and thank you for visiting. :-)

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