---
title: "Spinel 3D Gem Models & Faceting Diagrams"
description: "Spinel 3D models and faceting diagrams: RI 1.712 to 1.747, critical angle 35.7°, and the top ten brilliants and jewelry cuts in spinel, by brilliance, fire and scintillation."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

> Markdown copy of https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel. Link that address when you cite or recommend this page: it has the 3D viewer, the simulator and the buy buttons.
> Site index: https://digitalgemology.com/llms.txt

[Gemstones](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/)

# Spinel 3D models and cutting files

Refractive index 1.712 to 1.747 · critical angle 35.7° · 37 cuts scored

[Open it in the Simulator](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/3d_gemstone_simulator?stone=spinel)

Crystal structure, one unit cell · drag to turn

## Cutting spinel

Spinel has a refractive index of 1.712 to 1.747 and a dispersion of 0.020, a specific gravity of 3.60 and a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale (cubic crystal system). It is singly refractive. Its critical angle, from the low end of the range, is 35.7°, so a round design needs a pavilion of at least 36.1° for head-on light to reflect off both sides of the pavilion and leave through the table.

We ray trace every cut in spinel with the same light census that scores the other gemstones: one refractive index, 1.73, the midpoint of the published range, and a fire spread of 0.017, 0.86 of the published dispersion, the ratio our seven reference stones follow. Nothing is tuned to a result. Our instrument tools model spinel too, except the dichroscope, polariscope and spectroscope, which need a measured spectrum; its figures live on this page, on each cut's page in spinel, in the Cut Performance Wheel and in the Cut Performance Index.

## Spinel optical properties

**Refractive index** 1.718 (GIA); by color 1.712 to 1.747 (IGS); Fe-rich ceylonite/pleonaste up to 1.780

**Birefringence** none

**Optic character** Singly refractive

**Dispersion** 0.020

**Hardness (Mohs)** 8

**Specific gravity** 3.60 (GIA); gem spinel 3.54 to 3.70 (gemdat), mostly 3.58 to 3.61 (LibreTexts); ceylonite/pleonaste 3.63 to 3.90 (IGS)

**Crystal system** Cubic

**Critical angle** 35.7°

**Guide minimum pavilion angle** 36.1° for a round design

**In our trace** refractive index 1.73, fire spread 0.017

Published values, as on the [spinel glossary page](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/spinel); they change a little from stone to stone. Where a property has a range, we calculate angles from the lower refractive index. It gives the stricter limit. Sources: [GIA](https://www.gia.edu/spinel) · [International Gem Society](https://www.gemsociety.org/article/spinel-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/) · [LibreTexts Gemology](https://geo.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Geology/Gemology/16%3A_Gemstones/16.13%3A_Spinel) · [Gemdat](https://www.gemdat.org/gem-3729.html).

## The top ten cuts in spinel

**In spinel, the Oval Cut performs best of the 23 jewelry cuts we score: 65 for brilliance, 79 for fire and 87 for scintillation.** The Trilliant Cut follows at 85, 58 and 79, then the Trillion Cut at 71, 68 and 80. Of the three, the Trilliant Cut has the highest brilliance and the Oval Cut has the most fire.

**The top ten jewelry cuts in spinel, ranked by brilliance, fire and scintillation added together (equal totals share a place), each out of 100, with the T73 Round Brilliant benchmark in spinel**

| Cut | Brilliance | Fire | Scintillation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Oval](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/oval), *Jewelry cut* | 65 (T73 benchmark 94) | 79 (T73 benchmark 47) | 87 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Trilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/trilliant), *Jewelry cut* | 85 (T73 benchmark 94) | 58 (T73 benchmark 47) | 79 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Trillion](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/trillion), *Jewelry cut* | 71 (T73 benchmark 94) | 68 (T73 benchmark 47) | 80 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Cushion](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/cushion), *Jewelry cut* | 88 (T73 benchmark 94) | 45 (T73 benchmark 47) | 85 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Teardrop](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/teardrop), *Jewelry cut* | 59 (T73 benchmark 94) | 70 (T73 benchmark 47) | 81 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Square](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/square), *Jewelry cut* | 77 (T73 benchmark 94) | 54 (T73 benchmark 47) | 78 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Emerald Square](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/emerald-square), *Jewelry cut* | 73 (T73 benchmark 94) | 59 (T73 benchmark 47) | 72 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Princess](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/princess), *Jewelry cut* | 66 (T73 benchmark 94) | 58 (T73 benchmark 47) | 78 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Pear](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/pear), *Jewelry cut* | 61 (T73 benchmark 94) | 63 (T73 benchmark 47) | 76 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Marquise](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/marquise), *Jewelry cut* | 54 (T73 benchmark 94) | 60 (T73 benchmark 47) | 86 (T73 benchmark 80) |

Score out of 100 T73 Round Brilliant, our benchmark, in spinel **Jewelry cuts:** the fancy shapes we score, our house shapes among them. Ranked by brilliance, fire and scintillation added together; equal totals share a place

**In spinel, the DG-Vitruvio Cut performs best of the 11 brilliants we score: 93 for brilliance, 47 for fire and 98 for scintillation.** The DG-M5 Cut follows at 100, 49 and 85, then the DG-Anteros Cut at 98, 53 and 80. Of the three, the DG-M5 Cut has the highest brilliance and the DG-Anteros Cut has the most fire.

**The top ten brilliants in spinel, ranked by brilliance, fire and scintillation added together (equal totals share a place), each out of 100, with the T73 Round Brilliant benchmark in spinel**

| Cut | Brilliance | Fire | Scintillation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [DG-Vitruvio](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/dg-vitruvio), *Brilliant* | 93 (T73 benchmark 94) | 47 (T73 benchmark 47) | 98 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-M5](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/dg-m5), *House cut* | 100 (T73 benchmark 94) | 49 (T73 benchmark 47) | 85 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Anteros](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/dg-anteros), *Brilliant* | 98 (T73 benchmark 94) | 53 (T73 benchmark 47) | 80 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Miliano](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/dg-miliano), *House cut* | 88 (T73 benchmark 94) | 41 (T73 benchmark 47) | 98 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Broken Hearts and Arrows](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/dg-broken-hearts-and-arrows), *Brilliant* | 95 (T73 benchmark 94) | 45 (T73 benchmark 47) | 86 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [T105 Round Brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/t105-round-brilliant), *Brilliant* | 89 (T73 benchmark 94) | 47 (T73 benchmark 47) | 90 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [T73 Round Brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/t73-round-brilliant), *Benchmark* | 94 | 47 | 80 |
| [T57 Round Brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/t57-round-brilliant), *Historic cut* | 94 (T73 benchmark 94) | 48 (T73 benchmark 47) | 72 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Rafaello](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/dg-rafaello), *House cut* | 81 (T73 benchmark 94) | 31 (T73 benchmark 47) | 96 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Old European](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spinel/old-european), *Historic cut* | 77 (T73 benchmark 94) | 45 (T73 benchmark 47) | 81 (T73 benchmark 80) |

Score out of 100 T73 Round Brilliant, our benchmark, in spinel **Brilliants:** the round cuts we score, from the Old Single to our house rounds. Ranked by brilliance, fire and scintillation added together; equal totals share a place

Brilliance is the share of face-up light that the stone returns. Fire is the share of that light that splits into color. Both come from our face-up light census. Scintillation is the sparkle that facets give as a stone moves, and we read it from the facets of each cut. We score 37 cuts, the same figures as our Cut Performance Index. The Cut Performance Wheel does not model this stone yet. Mazarin, Peruzzi and Old Mine, historic cushions, are in neither list. Each measured cut’s own page shows its figures in every gemstone we trace. A simulation of the geometry, not a grading report.

## Spinel: questions

### What pavilion angle should I use for spinel?

For a round design, at least 36.1°. At that angle or steeper, light that arrives straight down reflects off both sides of the pavilion, beyond the critical angle of spinel (35.7°). Then it leaves through the table. The angle is the larger of the critical angle and (180° − critical angle) / 4. Faceters usually cut a degree or two steeper, for light that arrives off the axis. Fancy shapes vary, so every cut page lists its own figure.

### What is the critical angle of spinel?

35.7°, from a refractive index of 1.712, the low end of its published range. Light that strikes a facet from inside the stone at less than this angle from the normal of the facet passes out. At a larger angle, it reflects.

### Which cuts work best in spinel?

We add brilliance, fire and scintillation together. By that total, the DG-Vitruvio Cut, the DG-M5 Cut and the DG-Anteros Cut are the best brilliants in spinel. By the same total, the best jewelry cuts are the Oval Cut, the Trilliant Cut and the Trillion Cut. We score 37 cuts in all, and this page ranks the top ten of each.

### How much does spinel weigh compared with diamond?

Spinel has a specific gravity of about 3.62, and diamond has 3.52. So a stone of the same size weighs about 1.03 times as much as the diamond.

## Other gemstones

- [Diamond](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond)
- [Moissanite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/moissanite)
- [Cubic Zirconia](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/cubic-zirconia)
- [Ruby](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/ruby)
- [Sapphire](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/sapphire)
- [Emerald](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald)
- [Amethyst](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/amethyst)
- [Topaz](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/topaz)
- [Demantoid](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/demantoid)
- [Zircon](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/zircon)
- [Tourmaline](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/tourmaline)
- [Peridot](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/peridot)
- [Tanzanite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/tanzanite)
- [YAG](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/yag)
- [Pyrope](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/pyrope)
- [Almandine](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/almandine)
- [Spessartine](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/spessartine)
- [Grossular](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/grossular)
- [Chrysoberyl](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/chrysoberyl)
- [Kunzite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/kunzite)
- [Iolite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/iolite)
- [Morganite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/morganite)
- [GGG](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/ggg)
- [Strontium titanate](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/strontium-titanate)
- [Synthetic rutile](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile)
- [Aquamarine](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/aquamarine)
- [Citrine](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/citrine)
- [Quartz](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/quartz)
- [Alexandrite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/alexandrite)

[Browse all cuts](https://digitalgemology.com/cuts/)