One of the lesser-known, yet also one of the most precious gems in the world is the black spinel. Named σπίν(ν)ος [spín(n)os] by the Greeks which means to spark or sparkle, the spinel has been valued for both its beauty and rarity. The black spinel is a seldomly seen gem, and because it is commonly mistaken for black diamonds due to its opaque, jet-black appearance, it becomes even more hidden in the market. Here, we discuss all the highlights of the black spinel, from its Mohs hardness to its color quality, as well as how to care for your black spinel jewelry and even its healing properties. 

What is the value of Black Spinel? 

In many cases, the value of a colored stone can be determined by its clarity, color, carat weight, and cut. This formula also applies to see how much a black spinel is worth. The guidelines below will help you when choosing what spinel stones to include in your collection. 

Black spinel color quality

The black spinel has a distinctive black coloration, ranging from an inky black to a stark dark that resembles the night sky. In addition, the black spinel has no secondary tones and contains a purely black color. Because of this, black spinel is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to collect black gemstones. 

Black spinel clarity 

Because it possesses no visible flaws, the back spinel can be transformed through the cutting process, where the gem is faceted — it is through this that it is able to stunningly reflect light. Through a lack of cleavage and a uniform nature, the black spinel is perfect for faceting, and once polished, the stone displays a glass-like luster, sparkle, and shine. 

Black spinel carat size

Black spinels come in all shapes and sizes, where they are used as accent stones that can measure up to 18 carats in size. They can be used, however, as the center stone as well, since black spinels can also come in bigger sizes. 

Black spinel cut

Unfortunately, black spinel rough has inclusions and cracks, making it difficult to cut and set in jewelry. However, once it is faceted, the black spinel can offer many shapes including the common ones such as round, oval, pear, and cushion. Luckily, it is also available in fancier cuts like octagon, baguette, trillion, kite, and marquees. 

How to care for your black spinel jewelry

The black spinel is given a rating of 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, meaning it is both tough and durable. This also makes it hard to scratch and chip, making it a smart choice for jewelry that you might wear daily. To take care and clean your black spinel jewelry, simply follow these steps: 

1. Prepare warm, soapy water along with a soft brush
2. Brush the pieces softly, making sure to clean all spaces in between
3. Rinse thoroughly to remove all residue
4. Dry the jewelry using a soft cloth 

Use a soft cloth to wrap and store your spinel jewelry, taking care to put it at room temperature as contact with high heat may cause its color to fade. Lastly, keep it separate from other items to avoid accidental damage. 

Healing properties of black spinel 

The black spinel is believed to be a protective stone that can repel negativity while providing its wearer with inspiration and empowerment. It can also help individuals let go of resentment and find calmness, while its health benefits extend from improving the bladder and intestines to promoting a healthy female reproductive system. 

Black Spinel vs Onyx 

Onyx is a form of agate with altering bands of black and white, where Chalcedony is the name used for the white stone and onyx refers to the black. Purely black onyx has a vitreous luster but is not very shiny, however, finding a naturally black onyx is rare and most market specimens are often dyed to bring out its color. Black onyx is moderately durable with a score of 7 on the Mohs scale, which means it will need to be handled with care. While it was quite expensive in the past, it is not considered a minor gemstone and has since become very affordable. 

	Black Spinel	Onyx
Rareness	Rare	Rare
Hardness	8	7
Price	$200-$500	$2-$20
Size	various sizes	various sizes
Quality	glass-like luster, sparkle, and shine	vitreous but waxy
Cut	round, oval, pear, octagon, baguette, trillion, kite, marquise	round, square, oval, trillion and marquise

Based on the comparison table above, the black spinel is harder and is more valuable in terms of price. While the Onyx also has a glass-like quality, its waxy appearance takes away from the overall luster it gives. Furthermore, the black spinel is suitable for use in daily jewelry, while the onyx is much safer when it is used in relief carvings or as a display away from situations where it can get easily scratched and dented. Overall, the black spinel has many more uses than the onyx and is also worth more, making it the better choice for your next jewelry piece. 

Black Spinel vs Black Diamond

Back when it was first discovered, black diamonds were not a popular choice — no one wanted a diamond that didn't sparkle. Recently, however, the stone has gained popularity, which in turn affected its prices. Like other diamonds, black diamonds are made of carbon, but the black hue is a saturation of minor inclusions from the stone itself, which are mostly graphite. They are quite rare and are only found within the Central Africa Republic and Brazil. Furthermore, they are one of the hardest varieties of the diamond, which gives them a score of 10 on the Mohs scale, but because the black diamond doesn’t sparkle, it has a lesser brilliance than others. 

	Black Spinel	Black Diamond
Rareness	Rare	Rare
Hardness	8	10
Price	$200-$500	$2,000-$4,000
Size	various sizes	various sizes
Quality	glass-like luster, sparkle, and shine	opaque, with a high luster and almost metallic appearance
Cut	round, oval, pear, octagon, baguette, trillion, kite, marquise	round, princess, oval, pear, marquise, heart

Looking at the comparison table above, we can see that the black diamond is both more expensive and harder than the black spinel. While its toughness makes it ideal to be worn for daily activities, the price it comes with may not appeal to everyone. However, if you plan on buying a black diamond for a special, one-time purchase such as an engagement ring, then it could be the perfect choice for you and your loved one. But if you’re planning to collect black colored jewelry for a hobby, then the black spinel might be a more budget-friendly option. 

Black spinel history

Black spinel can usually be found with ruby and sapphire, which explains why they all share many similar properties. Spinel is mostly found and mined in Southeast Asia, from countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand, however, traces of spinel have been discovered across Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, Nepal, and Brazil. The Badakhshan mines in Afghanistan played great importance as early as 1000 - 1900 AD, with one of the earliest references to them recorded in the diary of Marco Polo (1254 - 1324 AD). 

During ancient times, mines in central and southeast Asia produced exceptionally large spinel crystals. These precious gems became known as Balas rubies and have become treasures of emperors and kings, often getting passed through one owner to the next as spoils of war. It wasn’t until 1783, that mineralogist Jean Baptiste Louis Rome de Lisle identified spinel as a different mineral than ruby, and as a result, some of today’s most famous “rubies” are actually spinel. 

One of the most well-known examples of this is the “Black Prince’s ruby” — the crimson red gem that’s set in the Imperial State Crown of England and is currently displayed in the Tower of London. It is smoothly polished and is octagonal in shape, and was probably mined in the mountains of Afghanistan. Its first appearance was documented in the historical records of fourteenth-century Spain, where it was said to be owned by a succession of Moorish and  Spanish Kings before it was given to Edward, Prince of Wales (also known as the “Black Prince”) in 1367 as payment for his victory in battle.