Spinel Myths and Legends: The Forgotten Flame Behind Royal Ruby Tales

Spinel is a gemstone of quiet brilliance, that's often found in deep reds, vivid pinks, and delicate purples. It’s been mistaken for ruby for most of human history, quietly sitting in crowns, talismans, and temples, unrecognised for what it truly is.

Today, we know that some of the world’s most famous “rubies” are, in fact, spinels.

Yet because of this long-standing identity mix-up, spinel rarely appears in legends under its own name. Its history is hidden behind ruby’s glow. Yet it's just as rich, and perhaps even more intriguing due to the mystery.

To trace spinel’s symbolic story, I’ve looked to the ancient lands where it was mined, the myths it also has claim to though mistaken identity, and the spiritual meanings that have emerged now that it’s finally recognised as its own gem.

The Rubies That Weren't: Crown Jewels in Disguise

For centuries, no one could tell ruby and spinel apart. 

It wasn’t until the late 1700s that mineralogists discovered that some “rubies” had a completely different composition. Before then, spinel and ruby shared one story. And that story is soaked in royalty, reverence, and fire.

The most famous example of a ruby that's not a ruby is the Black Prince’s Ruby, a deep red gem set in the Imperial State Crown of England. Gifted to Edward the Black Prince in 1367, it was believed to bring victory and protection. But centuries later, it turned out not to be ruby at all, it’s a spinel.

This "ruby" is far from the only royal gem they got wrong. A few other examples include the Timur Ruby, the Menshikov Ruby, the Samarian Spinel (formally called the Samarian Ruby), and the Red Lal. 

These red spinels weren’t imposters. They were, and still are, beloved gems, treasured by kings, sultans, and emperors for their fiery glow. 

Echoes of Ruby Legends: The Myths Spinel Can Also Claim

Because spinel and ruby were long considered the same, many ruby legends could also be considered spinel legends. Especially those from Central Asia, Burma (Myanmar), and the Silk Road.

In ancient India, red gemstones were called ratnaraj, meaning the king of gems. Spinels from Badakhshan and Burma often made their way into Indian temples and treasuries, silently soaking in the same reverence offered to rubies.

In Chinese tradition, red gemstones represented life energy due to them sharing their colour with blood. Gems from Central Asia, traded eastward along the Silk Road, were often spinels praised for their deep, living colour.

And in medieval Europe, it was believed that red gemstones could warn of danger or black magic by darkening in colour. Worn by royalty and clergy, many of these stones were spinels misidentified as ruby, yet trusted as talismans all the same.

Want to read more about Ruby's myths? Click Here

Persia and Mughal Courts: Spinel as a Spiritual Stone

Spinel, like ruby, was not just admired. It was inscribed, blessed, and worn close to the soul.

In Persian and Mughal empires, red gemstones known as balas rubies were especially prized. These gems were often engraved with Quranic verses, royal mottos, or poetic invocations, transforming them into spiritual objects as much as ornamental ones.

These inscribed gemstones were believed to carry divine favour, to protect the ruler, and to reflect the grandeur of a just reign. Many such stones now rest in museum collections or royal archives, their surfaces etched with centuries of power and prayer.

Fire Within: A Stone Worth the Blood

In Burma (now Myanmar), both ruby and spinel were mined from ancient deposits and revered in spiritual practice.

One particularly vivid legend tells of Burmese warriors inserting red gemstones beneath their skin before battle. Believing these “heart stones” would make them invincible. Whether ruby or spinel, the stone’s glow was thought to anchor the warrior’s soul to bravery.

Burma also considered red gems to be protective in the spiritual realm. They were seen as guardians against malevolent spirits, and as symbols of a life force burning strong.

Modern Crystal Lore: A Stone of Endurance and Balance

Today, spinel is celebrated for its own energy. 

Modern crystal practitioners describe spinel as a stone of resilience. Offering stamina through hardship, emotional renewal, and gentle grounding.

Its energy is said to support physical recovery, especially after illness or burnout, and to help restore what life has drained.

Different colours of spinel are linked to different chakras:

• Red and pink spinel connect to the root and heart, encouraging vitality and love.
• Blue spinel is linked to clear communication.
• Lavender and purple tones are said to assist with spiritual insight and inner transformation.

Unlike ruby’s commanding fire, spinel offers quiet strength, a flame that doesn’t roar but endures.

A New Yet Ancient Gem

Spinel’s legacy may have been hidden, but it was never absent. It sat on royal brows, protected warriors, and travelled trade routes as a gem of power and grace.

Now, with its true identity revealed, spinel is stepping out of ruby’s shadow and into its own light.

Whether worn for beauty, for balance, or for the silent strength it’s always carried, spinel is a gemstone that honours history, not by shouting, but by shining.