Red Spinel mineral specimen on calcite from the famous Himalayas’ Pamir Mountain mines of Bactra (current Badakhshan, Afghanistan) orangey-red color, medium tone, and vivid saturation. Perfect eye-clean octahedron spinel gem. The gem may weigh around 0.50 carat!

Spinel from Afghanistan has a long history of producing the finest quality spinels in large sizes which goes back to thousands of years ago. The spinels from this area used to be called Balas Ruby. Many famous rubies in crown jewels around the world are actually spinels, particularly from this source. The most famous is the Black Prince’s ruby, a magnificent 170-carat red spinel that now adorns the Imperial State Crown of England in the British Crown Jewels.