In the present study, we collected and investigated spinels from the Man Sin deposit in Myanmar using standard gemological testing, microscopic observation, EDXRF, and Raman spectrometry. The color observation was performed under various lighting conditions to show color differences. A very high Cr/Fe ratio is linked with exceptionally strong red fluorescence. Microscopic observation and Raman spectroscopy identified mineral inclusions of colorless phlogopite, molybdenite, hauerite, native sulfur, and calcite. Man Sin spinels are typical Fe– and Zn–poor spinels. Binary and ternary diagrams were used to discriminate each deposit (i.e., Man Sin, Mogok, and Namya in Myanmar) with high reliability. Jedi spinel fever in the Asian market, due to their unique neon color appearance and exceptionally strong fluorescence, is also discussed.

Purple-violet gem spinels from Tanzania and Myanmar have been investigated for their gemological, spectroscopic, chemical, and colorimetric characteristics. Samples TS and MS both had a purple hue with a pinkish or brownish secondary tone and medium–strong saturation. We identified a number of inclusions, including dolomite, phlogopite, and forsterite in Tanzanian spinel and magnesite, apatite, baddeleyite, anhydrite, pyroxene, and graphite in Myanmar spinel. Tanzanian spinels have slightly lower FWHM (full width at half maximum) values of the 406 cm−1 line in the Raman spectrum and the Cr3+ zero phonon line in the PL spectrum compared to samples from Myanmar. Fe, Mn, Cr, V, and Zn are proved as useful discriminators to distinguish these two geographic locations. UV-Vis-NIR spectra and CIE L*a*b* parameters are compared with trace element chemistry. Both samples are colored by Fe2+, with minor Fe3+, Cr3+, and V3+. Cr, V, and Fe are combined to influence the hue angle and lightless of purple spinels from Tanzania. However, due to the relatively stable content in Myanmar samples, Fe shows a minor effect on these two parameters. It is worth noting that all inclusion scene, spectral, and chemical characteristics, as well as the comparison presented in this study are of a limited number of samples from Tanzania and Myanmar.