Spinel (3 twins!) on matrix

A trio of classic "Spinel-law twins" with sharp, lustrous faces, fine reddish-pink color and textbook form are beautifully positioned on white marble matrix to create this attractive miniature display specimen. All of the twins are in excellent condition with no major damage that I can see with the naked eye. With moderate backlighting, you can really see the color and gemminess come through! It's rare enough to find THREE twins on matrix like this, but what really makes the piece special is the fact that NONE of the crystals are repaired! The piece is 100% as it was found in nature, with no repairs, restorations or alterations whatsoever. If you collect gem minerals or colorful display specimens, think about how many (or most likely how few) UN-repaired matrix Spinel specimens you have in your collection.

The area around Mogok is world famous for producing the finest crystals and gems of Spinel in the world. Many of these crystals have yielded the most impressive red "Ruby Spinel" gems ever found. Mogok is most likely the site of the discovery of the famous Black Prince's Ruby in the Crown Jewels of the UK. The significance of the stone in the crown is that it was actually revealed to be a giant (170 carat) Spinel, and not a Ruby as had been thought for centuries. Spinels are typically found in opaque, dark crystals, but we were fortunate to pick up a parcel of not only colorful but GEMMY crystals direct from the source!

Specimen #SPINEL111905