Spinel

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Spinel is a natural gemstone with a Mohs hardness of 8, and its traditional symbolic meaning is “Passion & vitality.” It is a birthstone for August.

Mohs hardness

8

Mineral group

Spinel

Color

Red to many colors

MEANING

Passion & vitality

LORE & HISTORY

Its red crystals were long mistaken for ruby — the British crown’s “Black Prince’s Ruby” is in fact a spinel. Added to August’s birthstones in 2016.

💎 August birthstone →

Meanings and lore reflect widely known traditions and are not claims of effect. Hardness and mineral group are standard mineralogy — About our data