Pleonaste (Spinel)

Item Description

Over the last few years, the presence of black Spinel in the gem world has really made an impact. Many jewelers and dealers are now offering black Spinels in all sizes. They somewhat reminded me of the recent "Black Diamond" craze that's been going on in this country. The name "Pleonaste" is archaic and outdated, but it can be difficult for these old names to work their way out of the public vernacular. This material is essentially opaque due to the fact that it is heavily iron-rich. The stone is still a very attractive, rarely seen color gem. It strangely is facetted on the crown, but the pavillion has a "cabochon" polish. Please note that the bottom of the stone has a small chip as well. It would definitely fill a spot in your collection if you have a Spinel suite or a "black" stone suite.