Whose brilliance rivals them all? Yes you may be thinking yourself, but that isn’t the type of brilliance we are talking about here. We are talking about blue zircon, whose brilliance rivals all other colored stones and is the only stone whose brilliance comes close to diamonds. Blue zircon is the primary birthstone of December, with tanzanite (which will be featured in our next article) and turquoise being the secondary stones.
There is sometimes confusion between zircon and cubic zirconia, due to similar names. They however are nothing close to the same. Cubic zirconia is a cheap synthetic stone that is used in low end jewelry and as a diamond substitute. Zircon is a natural and highly prized stone used in high end jewelry. Due to this confusion, zircon has had a shaky reputation in early years; except among gem collectors that know their true value. A Beverly Hills gem dealer said he knows that half the zircons he sells to jewelers never make it to their showcases; they’re buying the stones to keep for themselves.
George Kunz, who was Tiffany’s vice president and main gem buyer for years was a zircon enthusiast himself. Around the turn of the century he proposed marketing zircon as “starlite” instead, due to its high brilliance. Although the name was short-lived, this was the most notable attempt at putting the confusion and doubt around the stone to rest in gem trade history.
Gemologists aren’t the only ones so interested in zircon, geologists also have a strong eye for zircon, as it is the oldest stone, with specimens from Australia dating back over 4.4 billion years!
Zircon comes in many different colors, including pink, yellow, red, orange, green, brown and colorless, but blue zircon is the most highly prized and sought after. Most blue zircon is heat treated to improve color. Blue zircon comes in many pleasing shades of blue; it was no wonder it was used so frequently in Victorian jewelry, especially in the 1800s.
Zircon has many healing properties. It has a calming effect on allergies and asthma, as well as relief from other respiratory problems. It helps improve memory and intellectual abilities, promote common sense, provide aid in overcoming losses, and heal mental disturbances. It can also put energy into sharp focus, bringing confidence and strength to its owner. Zircon is said to be a highly energetic and spiritual stone, that will help you love yourself and others, and establish a more compassionate, peaceful and pure way of thinking. It works within all the chakras to stimulate the movement of sluggish or blocked energy. Zircon is a grounding stone, that helps with organization and working more effectively towards your goals. They are known as a “stone of virtue” as they help balance the virtuous aspects within you. Zircon also has other balancing properties, including emotional, physical and spiritual balance.
Despite its beauty and rarity, we believe this stone is under priced, even after it’s double in price over the last three years. Fine 2-10 carat blue zircon range $200-$400 per carat, 10 or more carat stones are $400-$700 per carat.
The best zircon come from Cambodia, but there are also deposits in Australia, Brazil, Korea, Thailand, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. Zircon is rated 6.5 to 7 on the mohs scale. It can be worn in any jewelry, but care should be taken to avoid scratches or hard blows to the stone, as the facets may abrade. This is a very challenging stone to cut properly. With a poor cut, it wont display the amazing brilliance the stone is known for.
We are proud of our great collection of finest loose and set blue zircon stones that we have collected over the years. Our sources for this stone are the best available today.
The pieces pictured contain fine quality blue zircon in 4-8 carats with white, black and blue diamond in white and yellow gold. Made by Alex Gulko in 2012/2013.
By Vicky Gulko
