Zircon Stone - Brilliant Gemstones

Buy Natural Zircon Gemstones

Zircon is an important gemstone in the world of jewelry, although it is not widely recognized by the general public. Many people mistakenly confuse zircon gemstones with cubic zirconia, a diamond simulant. However, zircon and cubic zirconia are fundamentally different: cubic zirconia is a synthetic material, while zircon is a natural mineral with its own distinct chemistry. We have a large selection of zircon gemstones for sale.

Zircon belongs to the neosilicate mineral group, which includes minerals composed of silicon and oxygen. This group features well-known gemstones such as garnet, peridot, topaz, andalusite, kyanite, tanzanite, as well as various forms of beryl, tourmaline, and quartz. Specifically, zircon is zirconium silicate and is the main source of zirconium, a lustrous white-gray metal similar to titanium.

Zircon stands out in the gem world thanks to its high refractive index (1.810 to 2.024), which is fairly close to that of diamond (2.417 to 2.419). This high refractive index, combined with its impressive dispersion (the splitting of white light into spectral colors), gives zircon exceptional brilliance. Before modern diamond simulants like cubic zirconia and moissanite, colorless white zircon was used as a diamond alternative and sometimes sold under the misleading name “Matura Diamond.”

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Zircon occurs in a wide range of interesting colors, with white being perhaps the least valued. Today’s most popular zircon color is a vivid electric blue, which can appear slightly greenish due to pleochroism. This blue zircon is produced through heat treatment, and only some zircon has the right crystal structure to turn blue when heated. As a result, most blue zircon on the market comes from Cambodia or Myanmar (Burma).

Some natural colors of zircon stone do not require any treatment, including rare rose and rose-orange zircon from Tanzania, as well as orange and orange-brown zircon from Cambodia. Green zircon is very rare, its color caused by minute amounts of radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium. Yellow or gold zircon is usually heated to improve its color, although untreated specimens can occasionally be found.

While zircon is reasonably hard (6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale), it is somewhat brittle and sensitive to knocks or pressure. Zircon can also wear along its facet edges, so its use in rings is best limited to protective settings or occasional-wear jewelry.

Zircon crystals are found in many regions of Asia, including Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. African sources are also growing in importance, with zircon being mined in Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Nigeria.

Return to Zircon Info for a broad overview.

Or continue to our Zircon Buying Guide for practical advice.