Black spinel is gemstone that is relatively unknown because of its rarity and commonly mistaken for black diamonds. It is an opaque, jet-black version of the red spinel, a gemstone with brilliant sparkle that is often mistaken for a ruby.

Black spinel is made of magnesium aluminum oxide or magnesium aluminate.

It is believed to be a protective stone that repels negativity and grounds the user while evoking inspiration and empowerment, without overwhelming others. It is also thought to help one find calmness and let go of resentments to re-establish relationships and dispel sadness. Black Spinel has been thought to heal the body as a whole, but is used to particularly help one’s bladder, intestines, and female reproductive system.

From the its initial discovery in ancient mines that supplied gems for royal courts from Rome to China, spinel was confused for rubbies and sapphires. In ancient times, the mines of central and southeast Asia yielded exceptionally large spinel crystals. These fine stones became known as Balas rubies, and some of them were the treasured property of kings and emperors, often passing through many hands as spoils of war. As a result, some of the world’s most illustrious “rubies” are actually spinel.

One of the most famous examples is the so-called “Black Prince’s ruby.” This historic crimson-red gem is set in England’s Imperial State Crown and displayed in the Tower of London. Smoothly polished and roughly octagonal in shape, it was probably mined in the mountains of Afghanistan. It first appeared in the historical records of fourteenth-century Spain, and was owned by a succession of Moorish and Spanish Kings before Edward, Prince of Wales (the “Black Prince”) received the stone in 1367 as payment for a battle victory.

Since then, many other English monarchs, including Henry VIII, have cherished the gem. Spinel is also found in the “Côte de Bretagne”, formerly from the French Crown jewels and paired with the Koh-i-Noor diamond as one of the centerpieces of England’s Crown Jewels.

Another large spinel in the Crown Jewels, the “Timur ruby,” which weighs over 350 carats. It, too, has a checkered history. Several Persian inscriptions carved into the gem testify to its age.