Regal Purple Spinel, 2.5 Carats!!

Spinels come in every color, and rank 8 on Mohs scale of hardness (only Diamonds (10) Rubies and Sapphires (9) are harder) -- like Topaz, Aquamarine, Emerald and Morganite, all of which you've no doubt heard of! Because it is so similar to Sapphire, it has been prized for centuries and is found in crowns and scepters of royalty. It's durable and not susceptible to cleavage or fracturing, and its luster is classified as "sub-adamantine". Only a few other gemstones have that classification - Rubies, Sapphires, Alexandrite, and some Garnets; and the only gems with a higher luster, "adamantine", are Zircons, Sphenes, and Diamonds. They are a fraction of the cost of Sapphires, yet just as beautiful and less likely to be heated or enhanced. This beautiful Gem is a Sri Lankan VVS clarity, unheated, unenhanced, octagonal cut deep purple stone. It measures 9.1 X 7 X 4.4 mm and has excellent luster! See it in motion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeXBvQHWcrU