The Historical: Spinels were often mistaken for rubies. The Physical: Spinel is used for astral travel, as it supposedly helps with gaining and cleansing the energies. The Spiritual: Spinel is believed to bring high energy and prosperity. True Colors: The most common colors are red, pink, blue and black. Some Places Where It’s Found: Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Afghanistan, and Australia What’s in a Name: The name spinel originates from the Latin word for form, spina, due to its pointed crystal shape in rough form or the Greek word spítha for spark in reference to its bright color. Imperial State Crown of England featuring the Black Prince Ruby at the front. Since there is no set way to wear birthstones most are illustrated with a historic jewel and a contemporary design as a way of showing a thread line through time of how a gem has been mounted in jewelry. Read on to learn what else the gems are thought to do, a little about their histories, where they come from and other fun facts. JA President and CEO David Bonaparte told National Jeweler, “At certain moments in history, when there is a strong call from gem enthusiasts to expand the list of official birthstones, Jewelers of America believes in recognizing the importance of historically significant gemstones and giving gemstone lovers a choice that suits their preferences.” So, if you are not fond of your birthstone, consider beginning a campaign for a new one.Īmong the numerous stories about the therapeutic influence of gemstones, it is generally agreed that wearing a gemstone during the month it is the birthstone heightens its healing powers. In 2016 Jeweler’s of America added spinel to the month of August. After that landmark moment you would think the list still would be complete, but no. It was an effort to organize the gems that had been associated with various months over the centuries. The essence of the modern American list was created in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers, the group that is known today as Jeweler’s of America. Despite the fact that the concept has roots going back to Biblical times, the list has been updated as recently as two years ago. The tradition of birthstones has been around for so long you probably think the list of gems is, um, set in stone, right? Wrong.

The Ultimate Guide to Birthstones Everything you need to know

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