COMPARE GUIDE
White SpinelVSYAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet)
Side-by-side comparison of physical properties, fluorescence, and crystal system — to identify by observation.
- ◎ is higher in YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet), giving a numerical distinguishing point.
- ◎ is higher in YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet), giving a numerical distinguishing point.
- ◎ is higher in YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet), giving a numerical distinguishing point.
Note: properties whose numeric ranges do not overlap are auto-extracted. Both are measurable with a refractometer or heavy-liquid bath.
| Property | A: White Spinel | B: YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refractive index (RI) | 1.712–1.717 | 1.830–1.836 | B higher |
| Specific gravity (SG) | 3.58–3.61 | 4.55–4.65 | B higher |
| Mohs hardness | 8.0 | 8.3 | B higher |
| Birefringence | — | — | — |
| Dispersion | — | 0.028 | — |
| Property | A: White Spinel | B: YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal system | 等軸晶系 | 等軸晶系 |
| Pleochroism | — | — |
| Chelsea filter | — | inert |
| UV (long-wave) | — | inert |
| UV (short-wave) | strong (white) | weak (orange) |
◆YAG (Y₃Al₅O₁₂, RI 1.83, SG 4.55–4.65, singly refractive) is significantly heavier than spinel (SG 3.58–3.65) — hand-heft test gives diagnostic difference at 1 ct and above. Both are singly refractive cubic crystals; the SG and RI differences are the clean diagnostics. Synthetic spinel often shows strong bluish-white SW-UV ; YAG typically shows only weak pinkish .
Distinguishing tools
Tools that decide between White Spinel and YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) in practice.
Note: this page is auto-generated from published GIA / CGL reference values. Individual stones, treatments, and synthetics may fall outside these ranges. For a definitive identification, consult an accredited gem laboratory.