Spinel

Spinels occur in a huge array of colours. Alongside bright hues like scarlet, violet and ultramarine, they can also exhibit nuanced tones including lilac-grey, fuchsia-red and smoky blue.

Nineteen48 spinels are responsibly sourced from Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Myanmar. Nineteen48 works directly with a trusted network of miners and suppliers to ensure all spinels are sourced through a fair and transparent supply chain.

Spinels are a hard gem and good for everyday wearing jewellery.

Nineteen48 spinels are responsibly sourced from Sri Lanka. Many of the spinels come directly from their own artisanal mine near Kuruwita. Others are sourced through a long-established network of local Sri Lankan miners, with whom strong and trusted relationships have been developed over the years.

Tanzanian spinels are sourced through the Moyo Gems project in Tanga (north-east Tanzania). Some Tanazanian spinels are from the Rubyfair project, which has now completed, so there is a limited supply of these. 

Burmese spinels are sourced through our trusted partner, Natural Spinel Gem, who has a trusted network in Myanmar.

None of the spinels are treated in anyway.

Tanzania has been a source of gemstones for decades. Most of the gem mining is either artisanal or small-scale (ASM). It is known for being the country where we find tanzanite, probably its most famous gemstone, which is much rarer than diamond. Other gemstones mined in Tanzania include sapphire, ruby, spinel and tsavorite garnet.

Miners often work in small teams using only hand tools, but there are also mines with some more advanced mechanisation. Gem mining has become an important part of the Tanzanian economy and mining overall is a significant employer, often providing income in communities where the opportunities to make a living are limited.

Gemstone mining in Tanzania is primarily overseen by the Ministry of Minerals and the Mining Commission, but there are also a number of other trade bodies and associations that represent the sector.