Noelle’s Notes: Zircon
As a second generation gem dealer, I’ve been surrounded by gemstones my entire life. I have been learning about rough and faceted gems, experiencing their beauty and diversity hands-on for as long as I can remember. My passion for gems and fascination with the glorious ways that mother earth creates such beauty is boundless.
I hope to share my passion, knowledge, and insights to help my jewelry designer clients build a deeper understanding of the stones that I sell, inspire their creativity, and solve design problems, so that they may tap into this knowledge as a resource when designing and selling.
Noelle’s Notes is my way of sharing my valuable insights, key qualities, and unique features of colored gemstone materials in a format that you can refer back to whenever you need a refresh.
To kick off this series, I have chosen to feature Zircon, a scintillating gemstone material that is growing in popularity and recognition. A stone that I have always adored and believe is so underrated, for now at least.
Something we should clarify right away: Zircon is NOT Cubic Zirconia, CZ.
Cubic Zirconia (CZ) is a man-made material often used as a diamond alternative.
Zircon is a natural gemstone. The oldest Zircon crystals date back over 4 billion years making Zircon the oldest
surviving minerals we have found on earth.
Zircon
Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 7
Birthstone: December (along with Turquoise, Tanzanite,
and Topaz)
Color: Blue, Red, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Champagne, Brown,
Green, White (Colorless), Color-Change
Common Origins: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka,
Myanmar (Burma), Madagascar, Brazil, Tanzania
Treatments and Enahancements:
– Color produced by heat treatment is stable
– Blue and red Zircon are typically heat-treated
– Champagne, light pink, and white Zircon may be heated or
unheated
– Color-change Zircon is usually unheated
Jewelry Use:
– Suitable for all types of jewelry
– Wear with care; avoid sharp impacts or rough handling
Care and Cleaning:
– Store separately to prevent contact with harder gemstones
– Clean using warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush
– Do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaners
We’ve created a Zircon fact sheet for you to print and keep on hand as a helpful reference. Click on the fact sheet to
download a copy to save or print for your gemstone reference library.
Now that you have a basic overview of Zircon, let’s explore its standout features and why it’s a favorite of mine.
Powerful Sparkle
Zircon is a doubly refractive (birefringent) gemstone material, meaning it splits a single ray of light into two different rays when it enters the stone. In effect, there is even more light to bounce around the gemstone facets and flash back at you. This property is what gives Zircon its exceptional brilliance, sparkle, and fire.
The playful sparkle of a faceted Blue Zircon is like the sunlight glittering on moving water, shimmering on a bright day. A rose cut champagne-colored Zircon flashes like a luxe disco ball, full of mesmerizing glamour. Orange and brown Zircon flash with an evocative, warm, and passionate fire.
Broad Color Palette
Color is the first factor we consider when discussing gemstones. Zircon is an exciting material because it offers us a
broad and unique color palette to design with.
There are delicate muted tones like rosy pink, soft apricot orange, champagne gold, elevated brown, and moody,
inky blue.
For a more vibrant color scheme, Zircon offers vivid hues of cerulean blue, bubble gum pink, ginger orange, and
sunny yellow.
Green Zircon is rare, but occurs in olive and deep green hues.
Even more rare, is color change zircon, typically changing in color from
green to blue depending on the light.
This 5.67 ct Color-Change Zircon from Burma is one of the newest pieces in
our inventory. This cushion cut stone transitions from a deep midnight blue
to a verdant forest green.
Cool Cuts
Working with gemstones is a practice of both art and science. Custom gemstone cutting is part of the legacy passed on to me by my father. My time spent managing our lapidary workshop in Bangkok, Thailand gave me detailed knowledge of how rough gemstones can be shaped into classic cuts, fancy cuts, and custom designed gemstone cuts.
I’m able to assess scientific qualities of gemstones: crystal forms (habits), how these forms impact how crystals display color, and how they interact with light. This foundation of scientific knowledge and practical experience supports my creativity when planning gemstone cuts to create the most beautiful stone from each piece of rough.
Zircon is an incredible stone to work with because it stands out in both classic and fancy cuts. Geometric, sharp cornered shapes and elongated facets accentuate Zircon’s sparkle with broad flashes of light.
Rounded cuts with numerous small facets capture Zircon’s sparkle creating a shimmering pool of light.
Great Value
I love introducing designers to Zircon because its price point allows designers to focus on their vision and craft while working with materials they truly love.
Zircon provides impactful color and brilliance that are a perfect fit as matched pairs and center stones, at a price per carat that allows clients to work with larger gemstones and stay on budget.
Our gemstone inventory celebrates Zircon’s beauty by highlighting the gemstone’s diverse color range and cut variety.
I love Zircon so much that this year I made myself my very own three stone ring in 18K yellow gold featuring 2 champagne-colored Zircons
and one rose-colored Zircon.
I hope our discussion of Zircon filled you with inspiration!
Browse our inventory of Zircon.
Browse our inventory and register for an account to see pricing.