Hi Alan:
Yes, it called for synthetic spinel which I have never purchased before and initially had no source. I was able to use the one piece I found but made a connection through Alibaba and ordered several boules in case my 1st piece got messed up.
I have a bunch of quarts, CZ, and corrundrum on hand and am just hoping they don’t choose topaz for the Master category. Trying to go with different colors in each entry. So I have orangr and blue ones done. Would like to do one in red, purple, or green this year.