Spinel is the great impostor of gemstones Many famous rubies in crown jewels around the world are actually spinels. The most famous is the Black Prince's ruby, a 170-carat Red Spinel – the centre-stone in the Imperial State Crown of England, The Timur Ruby, a 361-carat red spinel now owned by Queen Elizabeth, has names of some Mughal emperors who previously owned it engraved on its face.

A spectacular color of Spinel is a hot pink - In addition to beautiful reds, and a range of gorgeous pastel shades of pink and purple. Spinel also comes in beautiful blue tones with cobalt called cobalt spinel, are very rare, found almost exclusively in Sri Lanka .

Fine Red spinels are now rarer than Rubies. <See list of World Famous Gems>