Everything About Zircon Gemstone

Zircon is one of the world’s most misunderstood gemstones because it shares almost the same name with cubic zirconia, a completely man-made gem which never occurs in nature and is one of the most common artificial products in the jewelry trade. Although these two both contain the element zirconium and resemble diamond (with cubic zirconia being the inexpensive diamond simulant), they are completely separate substances. Because of this, zircon’s reputation suffered as being the cheap diamond imitation.

Let’s explore what makes zircon special and why you should consider it an addition to your jewelry collection.

 

History of zircon gemstone

According to scholars, zircon’s name is derived from the Arabic word “zarkun”, which means cinnabar or vermillion. Others also believe that it comes from the Persian word “zarGun”, which means gold-colored. Looking into the range of colors that zircon produces, either of the two derivations could be right.

The oldest zircons found in a sedimentary rock in Australia were estimated to be 4.4 billion years old. However, they were detrital grains or not of gem quality. Gem-quality zircons, on the other hand, are less old. Those found from Sri Lanka have been dated about 500 million years and those from Cambodia have been dated about 1 million years.

Zircon has been used as a gemstone for over two centuries. Unfortunately, many people might have heard about this gem but not seen it. This is probably because it has been widely used as a diamond simulate in the early 1900s.

Back in the Middle Ages, zircon was believed to induce sleep and drive evil spirits away. Some people even believe that this stone can help relieve stress, clear the mind, and impact self confidence positively. It is also believed to symbolize wealth and prosperity, wisdom, honor, and purity.

During the Victorian era, around the 1880s, it was a particular favorite feature of fine gems in English estate jewelry. The blue zircon was also popular with old jewelers like Tiffany & Co. in the same period due to its exceptional “fire” or light-splitting property.

Today, it serves as a modern alternative birthstone to turquoise and tanzanite for the month of December.

 

Properties of zircon gemstone

Zircon is a zirconium silicate mineral with a chemical formula ZrSiO4. Its crystal structure is tetragonal.

Zircon is a reasonably hard and 

durable stone (Mohs Hardness of 6-7.5) known for its good brilliance and bright luster. This gem comes in a variety of colors—red, orange, yellow, blue, green, brown, and colorless. Since most zircons are transparent and have few inclusions that disturb the light that passes, they have an improved bright appearance. Another outstanding property of zircon is its ability to resist heat of up to 2,190 °C (its melting point).

Among other naturally-occurring gems, zircon is the most cost-effective substitute for diamonds even if its brilliance is less pronounced. With its high refractive index of 1.92 and high dispersion of 0.039, it creates a special fire or sparkle when cut into facets because faceted stones have the ability to split white light into a spectrum of colors.

Due to these impressive properties, zircon gemstones are an excellent choice for engagement rings and other fine jewelry and decorative items. They are also used in the foundry industry for sandblasting and refractory paints. 

However, the green ones usually come in lower property values than others. Scientists found out that their crystal structures were almost completely broken down by radioactive elements. These radioactive elements may still be present in the stone as impurities, damaging the crystal structure over long periods of geologic time.

 

Where is zircon gemstone found?

For hundreds of years, gem-grade zircon has been produced from river deposits in various Asian countries—Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Other sources of this gem include beach sands in Australia, Florida, India, and Brazil. It exists more commonly as an accessory mineral in felsic igneous rocks, but can also be found in metamorphic rocks and detrital deposits.

The best gem-quality zircons are produced in Cambodia and Sri Lanka. They are typically derived from carbonate rocks or other types of rock produced from hydrothermal activities. They are brown in color when mined, but turn blue, white, or yellow when treated with heat. These colors are not commonly used for formal-style jewelry, but can be seen in Sri Lanka multi-stone necklaces and bracelets.

 

Value of zircon

The cost of zircon gemstone depends on several factors. The main criteria used to determine its quality are color saturation, clarity, and size. The quality of the cut may also be important. Gem-quality crystals and blue stones have the highest worth. Since it is a relatively rare mineral, it’s difficult to find large-sized samples of high quality.

Depending on the color and size, the price for each carat of zircon gem ranges from $50 to $400. For example, heat-treated blue zircons of 5 to 10 carats cost $200 to $300 while those over 10 carats cost $300 to $400. Pure green zircons cost $250 to $300 per carat.

 

How to take care of zircon jewelry

Just like any other jewelry, it requires proper care to make zircon last for years to come. Below are some tips you can do:

  • Polish your zircon jewelry with a soft cloth.
  • Since it is still less hard than diamond, avoid knocking your zircon jewelry on hard surfaces.
  • To store your zircon jewelry, keep it in a cotton or velvet cloth in an environment free of moisture or steam.
  • Don’t expose your zircon jewelry to harsh chemicals or cleaner like bleach. When cleaning, use a cloth or soft brush and mild soap if needed then rinse with warm water to remove soap residues.
  • Seek a professional jeweler to have your zircon jewelry inspected and cleaned thoroughly.

If you own zircon jewelry and wish to sell this luxury asset, reach out to Biltmore Loan and Jewelry.