Zircon

Natural Faceted Gems

Zircon is a tetragonal zirconium silicate mineral. Transparent gem material occurs naturally in colorless, yellow, brown, red, green, and blue hues and has strong luster, dispersion, and birefringence that can make rear facet edges appear doubled.

Identity

Material or variety: Zircon
Scientific or material identity: Zircon
Classification: Natural mineral or mineral variety
Aliases or trade names: Jargoon · Hyacinth
Composition or formula: ZrSiO₄
Crystal system or structure: Tetragonal
Geological or manufacturing origin: Can form in more than one geological environment, or combines several materials.
Mohs hardness: 7.5

Origins

Australia · Cambodia · China · Kyrgyzstan · Madagascar · Myanmar · Russia · Sri Lanka · Tanzania · Thailand · Vietnam

Appearance & optical properties

transparent golden-brown natural zircon with high luster.

History & discovery

The name is commonly traced to Persian zargun, meaning “gold-hued,” though an Arabic origin has also been proposed. Colorless zircon was widely used as a diamond look-alike in the early 1900s, while blue zircon was fashionable in Victorian jewelry of the 1880s. Hyacinth is an older name for yellow, orange, and red zircon.

Uses & care

Common uses: Transparent crystals are faceted for jewelry. Zircon sand is also used in ceramics, refractories, and foundry work, while geologists use durable zircon grains to date rocks.
Handling and cleaning: Clean with warm soapy water and avoid steam or ultrasonic cleaners. Protect facet edges from knocks and prolonged intense light, since zircon can be brittle and some colors may change after strong light exposure.

Jewellery

5 pieces of Zircon jewellery. Learners earn each one in DigMyGem by learning words; until then it shows as a silhouette.

Matara Brilliant Ring
Ring
A colourless zircon cut round and brilliant, so lively it was long mistaken for diamond and called the Matara diamond.
Blue Zircon Necklace
Necklace
A large oval blue zircon hung as a pendant, one of the most prized colours of the stone.
Hyacinth Earrings
Earrings
A pair of pear-shaped reddish-brown zircons, the warm colour the old jewellers called hyacinth.
Mekong Blue Bangle
Bracelet
An imagined bangle set with a row of blue zircons, the bright blue stone of Cambodia, whose fire rivals a diamond's.
Hyacinth Spray Brooch
Brooch
An imagined brooch of a hyacinth flower spray set with orange-red zircons, once called hyacinth stones.