Judging quality
Zircon shows strong doubling of the back facets under a loupe — a diagnostic no simulant reproduces. Facet edges abrade easily, so worn stones look softened at the crown.
Silicate
Zircon
A genuinely brilliant natural gem with dispersion approaching diamond, and quite unrelated to cubic zirconia despite the name confusion. Cambodian material is heat-treated to the familiar electric blue; natural stones run honey, red and brown.
Care
Brittle despite its hardness. Store separately; avoid knocks and ultrasonics.
History & lore
Zircon crystals from the Jack Hills of Western Australia are dated at 4.4 billion years, the oldest known fragments of the earth's crust.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Zircon
- What is Zircon?
- A genuinely brilliant natural gem with dispersion approaching diamond, and quite unrelated to cubic zirconia despite the name confusion. Cambodian material is heat-treated to the familiar electric blue; natural stones run honey, red and brown.
- How hard is Zircon and what is it made of?
- Zircon is a Silicate-family mineral with the composition ZrSiO4. It crystallizes in the tetragonal system and rates 6-7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in blue, golden, red, colorless.
- Where does Zircon come from?
- Notable localities for Zircon include Cambodia (Ratanakiri), Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Australia.
- How do you tell good Zircon from filler?
- Zircon shows strong doubling of the back facets under a loupe — a diagnostic no simulant reproduces. Facet edges abrade easily, so worn stones look softened at the crown.
- How do you care for Zircon?
- Brittle despite its hardness. Store separately; avoid knocks and ultrasonics.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.