The Naming of Spinels

Next in the order that we have chosen comes "spinel." The more valuable spinels are of a red color that somewhat closely approaches the red of some rubies. Such red spinels should be called "Ruby spinel" (and not spinel ruby). The stones themselves sometimes get mixed with corundum rubies (they are frequently found in the same gem gravels), and this makes it all the more necessary that both stones and names should be clearly distinguished. Some dealers call reddish spinels "Balas ruby" (rose red), and orange red ones "rubicelle." Violet red spinel is sometimes called "almandine spinel." It is very desirable that the name of the mineral species, spinel, should be used, together with a qualifying color adjective, in naming gems of this species, rather than such terms as "rubicelle," "balas-ruby," "spinel ruby," etc.