Spinel is a gemstone that has often been mistaken for other precious stones, especially ruby, throughout history. Many famous "rubies" in royal crowns and treasures, such as the "Black Prince's Ruby" and the "Timur Ruby", were actually large red spinels, not true rubies. This historical confusion over spinel's identity is a unique aspect of the gemstone's past, as it wasn't until the 18th century that advanced testing could reliably distinguish spinel from ruby due to their similar appearances. The mistaken identity of spinel is a fascinating part of this gemstone's story.
