Spinel

Spinel is a wonderful gem that occurs naturally in many different colors, even colorless.  The most valued spinel colors are red, cobalt blue, vivid pink and orange, with the finest qualities rivaling high quality rubies and sapphires.

Spinel was cherished by ancient emperors and monarchs, as it was originally thought to be ruby.  It wasn't until 1783 when mineralogist Jean Baptiste Louis Rome de Lisle identified spinel as a different mineral than ruby.