The Black Prince's Ruby and the Timur Ruby in the British Crown Jewels are red spinels, historically termed 'balas rubies' after Badakhshan.
The Samarian Spinel weighs 500 carats (100 g), making it one of the largest known spinels.
Synthetic spinel grown by the Verneuil and flux methods imitates aquamarine and emerald, and transparent spinel sheets were made through sintering by 2015.