Purple Spinel (twinned) in Calcite ex Meieran

Item Description

Spinel is one of those rare "hard gem" species that actually is quite rare in nature in large and sharp crystals, and so is treasured by both gem and mineral collectors alike. Historically, most have been cut and it is only relatively recently that good crystals survived to reach the market of mineral collectors. They are simply worth too much at the source, as an easy and quick way to feed the family and the villages where found, as most are mined in artisanal and old style digging projects. In fact, many historic rubies are actually spinels, mined before science could tell them apart. They say that ruby was the stone of envy in medieval Europe, but some of the stones were spinels, instead! Saving specimens for crystals, and in matrix, in particular, is notably a phenomenon of the recent decades. Burma was long more closed to mineral people and the gem market was so big it simply consumed nearly everything for any size of facet or cutting rough... and therefore many of the first fine matrix spinels of quality (red, and more rarely purple as you see here) came out of Vietnam. This is a superb example of rare purple spinel, twinned no less, with a single 3 cm tall crystal standing on a well-trimmed matrix. As with many of his specimens, Gene was looking for dramatic, balanced crystals on matrix or big singles - or, ideally, a combination with both. And, for purple spinel, this is a large crystal. It is shockingly fluorescent a neon red color under ultraviolet light. It is difficult to value such pieces, as they are always rare. And, without repairs or fake emplacement, more so. Gene Meieran collection. Valued $6000-8500.