Spinel
Spinel is an attractive gemstone that comes in many colours with red being the most sought after. Kuh-I-Lal (Tajikistan) has produced pinkish red spinel of excellent quality for over a millennium, and they were historically regarded as being rubies (‘Balas rubies’). Other old mining areas include Sri Lanka and Burma. More recent deposits are found in Madagascar, Tanzania and Vietnam. Especially rare is Cobalt spinel, which is characterised by a vivid and saturated blue colour. Spinel is not frequently treated.
Report No & Photo
The SSEF report number is the number given to the spinel when it is submitted for testing, and is a unique number. If an item is resubmitted later for a ‚recheck‘ after re-cutting or for a report update then the spinel obtains a new report number.
The photo of a spinel depicts the gem at the time of testing. The photo on an SSEF report is for representational purposes and does not necessarily represent actual colour, clarity or size. For size comparison purposes, approx. magnification used is provided under the photo on the report.
Weight
Weight of a spinel in carats, measured and stated with 3 digits. In the case of mounted jewellery, total weight corresponds to total weight of jewellery item(s) and is stated in grams.
Shape & Cut
The shape and cut describe the outlining shape and cutting style of an examined gemstone. For jewellery items with several stones, a range of shapes and cuts may be stated, if these vary.
Measurements
The measurements are given at 2 decimal places. They generally represent length x width x height of a gemstone. For series of gemstones or gemstones in jewellery, a range of measurements may be stated on the report.
Colour
Colour description on an SSEF report for a spinel describes both the colour hue (e.g. red), potentially a modifier (e.g. pinkish red), and the saturation of colour in an analysed gemstone (e.g. light blue).
Identification
The identification section of an SSEF report can include the variety name and the mineralogical group name of a gemstone. As such, for spinel:
- Spinel
A synthetic spinel would be clearly identified and labeled on a report in the identification section.
Treatment
Spinel can be treated. In the absence of evidence for treatment (e.g. heat treatment or fissure filling) the following sentence is stated in the comments section of the report:
- No indications of treatment.
Origin
Origin determination is an expert opinion. At SSEF origin determination relies on the analysis of microscopic features, trace element concentrations, and spectroscopic data of a coloured gemstone. The measured data pertaining to a specific client stone is then compared with our extensive reference collection and database of coloured gemstones of known origin, and scientific gemmological literature.
Report date & verification
The date corresponds to the date on which gemmological testing of the item was concluded. SSEF reports can be verified on www.myssef.ch