Spinel and Diamond Earrings in 14K

Rare and underappreciated, spinel is most famous for what it is not. Many of the world's most famous “rubies” are actually spinel, including the Black Prince’s Ruby on the British Imperial Crown and the Timur Ruby owned by Queen Elizabeth. It's not surprising that ruby and spinel, often referred to in ancient texts as Balas ruby, were long confused. Both are mined from the gem gravels of Burma and Sri Lanka. They have similar hardness and durability, vivid color, and brilliance. Now treasured for its own sake, spinel is a favorite of gem dealers and gem collectors due to its brilliance, hardness, rarity, and wide range of spectacular colors. Spinel is the gem of the 22nd anniversary.

14K white gold is the most popular white precious jewelry metal. Its pale glow is the perfect setting for cool-toned gems. Since gold is naturally golden yellow in color, to make 14K white gold, 58.5% gold is alloyed with white metals, usually silver, zinc, palladium, or nickel. These metals also improve the hardness, durability, and affordability of white gold jewelry, since pure gold scratches fairly easily. To get that bright shine, most white gold jewelry is also plated with rhodium, a platinum group metal.