Physical Features
| Chemical | MgAl2O4 |
| Color | Red, pink, orange, blue, violet, blue-green |
| Crystal Habit | Cubic, Octahedral |
| Crystal System | Isometric |
| Cleavage | Indistinct |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Hardness | 7.5 - 8 Mohs scale |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Transparency | Transparent, Translucent |
| Specific gravity | 3.54 - 3.70 |
| Refractive index | 1.710 - 1.735 |
| Birefringence | None |
| Asterism | Yes |
Spinel is a flat triangular shaped stone, coming from the magnesium aluminum family. It is hard vitreous stone present in different colors such as pink, red, blue, lavender, Violet, dark green, brown, black, and sometimes even colorless. It is transparent to opaque in various cases. A few Spinels made its way to worlds famous gemstones, for example- The Black Prince's Ruby and Timur Ruby in the British Crown. The Samarian Spinel is the largest Spinel in the world which weighs 500carats that is 100g. The old spinel has been named as Balas Ruby due to its rose-tinted color feature and sometimes is mistaken for Ruby due to its highly appealing rosy red color. It can be distinguished by its octahedral crystal and single refraction feature. They can be seen in octagons, trillions, squares, and other shapes.
Use and purpose
- Boosts high energy and sense of faith in oneself.
- Helps in attracting money, fame, power, reputation.
- Builds progress path of the individual.
- It brings vitality to any endeavor made by the person.
- It brings power from the Earth and thereby strengthen the spiritual energy.
- Widens the scope of favorable destiny.
- Helps in focusing on the set target.
- It reduces the forgetfulness disorder.
- Helps in astral traveling and aura cleansing.
- Helps one to bring energy within in order to calm from distress.
- Increases the intellectual power of the mind and tends to cement the system with positivity.
- It helps in building stamina.
- It brings energy in order to benefit the teeth, gums, roots, skin and whole body, balancing the health structure well.
Different Spinels has different benefits to the body. Some are related to throat chakra while some to root or other areas. But Spinels are considered as one of the most beautiful and powerful gemstones in the gem trade industry by the gemologists.
Spinel in Astrology
Ruling planetSun (also Mars)
Zodiac signsLeo; Aries and Scorpio
ChakraRoot
Day to wearSunday
FingerRing finger
MetalGold or copper
Many famous 'rubies' in royal crowns were later found to be red spinel.
In Vedic astrology, Spinel is linked with Sun, the planet of confidence, leadership, vitality, government favour and the relationship with the father. It also carries some of the energy of Mars, which governs courage, energy, property, siblings and the drive to act. The main gem of Sun is Ruby (Manik); Spinel is a gentler, more affordable stone that people choose to support the same planet.
Benefits of Wearing Spinel
- Supports vitality and energy
- Encourages hope
- A beautiful alternative to ruby
- Strengthens the positive results of Sun: confidence, leadership, vitality, government favour and the relationship with the father
Crystal and gemstone benefits are traditional beliefs and are not a substitute for medical or professional advice.
How to Wear Spinel
- Weight: there is no strict rule; a stone of 5 to 7 carats in a ring, or any comfortable size in a pendant or bracelet, is common.
- Metal and finger: set it in gold or copper and wear it on the ring finger of your working hand.
- Day and time: wear it for the first time on a Sunday, within two hours after sunrise, preferably during the Shukla Paksha (waxing Moon).
- Purify: dip the ring or pendant in raw milk mixed with Ganga jal (or clean water) for a few minutes, then rinse it.
- Energise: light a lamp, face east and chant the Sun mantra 108 times: Om Hraam Hreem Hraum Sah Suryaya Namah.
Who Should Wear Spinel?
- People whose Moon sign or Ascendant is Leo, ruled by Sun.
- Anyone running the Sun Mahadasha or Antardasha, when Sun is a helpful planet in the chart.
- People who want more of Sun's qualities: confidence, leadership, vitality, government favour and the relationship with the father.
Use care when combining stones: stones of the Sun, Moon, Mars and Jupiter work well together, but are usually not combined with stones of Venus, Saturn, Rahu or Ketu.
Care and Cleaning
Spinel is a hard, durable stone (about 7.5 on the Mohs scale) and suits everyday rings. Clean it with lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft brush; avoid sudden temperature changes. Many people also re-energise their stone once a month by placing it in moonlight or chanting the planet's mantra.
Tips for Buying Spinel
- Choose a natural, untreated stone; heated, dyed, glass-filled or synthetic stones are not considered astrologically effective.
- Ask for a lab certificate from a recognised gem laboratory.
- Good colour, clarity and a clean cut matter more than size.
- Buy from a trusted seller who explains the origin and any treatment of the stone.
Common Questions
Can I wear Spinel without a horoscope check?
Spinel is a gentle stone and is generally safe to wear. For the best results, check that Sun is a helpful planet in your horoscope.
Which finger should I wear Spinel on?
Traditionally on the ring finger, set in gold or copper, first worn on a Sunday.
How long does Spinel take to show results?
Many people notice a difference within a few weeks, though astrologers say the full effect builds over a few months of regular wear.