July Birthstone: 26 fiery ruby jewellery pieces for a red-hot summer
While the verdant greens of peridot may be more commonly associated with those born in high summer, over recent years a new gem has taken over as the August birthstone of choice: the spinel. Available in a rainbow of colours, this precious gem can be found in deep red, vibrant orange, lush purple, glowing green and various shades of blue, making it a gloriously diverse option. Here’s our edit of sparkling spinel jewellery pieces to celebrate August birthdays.
Over recent years, top jewellers have been eschewing peridot’s leafy green charms in favour of August’s second stone, the sparkling spinel, beloved for its magnificent brilliance and versatility. Best known for its rich reds – up until the late 18th century the stone was often mistaken for a ruby – it’s now found in a variety of dazzling hues and has long been revered by ancient gemstone merchants.
Originally sourced in Burma, the Burmese refer to the stone as ‘Nat Thwe’ – ‘polished by the spirits’ – due to its dazzling sparkle. Perhaps the most famous spinel of all is the one that sits at the heart of the Crown Jewels, an unpolished 361 carat red stone that was presented as a gift to Queen Victoria by The East India Company and set into a necklace by Garrard in 1853. To this day it remains one of the most historically significant jewels that the Queen owned.
Spinel Jewellery
