Understanding Zircon Gemstone
Zircon is one of the oldest minerals found on Earth and is admired for its remarkable brilliance, strong dispersion, and wide range of natural colors. Often misunderstood because of the similar name to cubic zirconia, natural zircon is a genuine gemstone composed of zirconium silicate and has been valued in fine jewelry for centuries.
This guide explains how zircon forms, its physical and optical properties, sources, color zoning characteristics, and the key factors that determine its value.
Natural zircon gemstones display exceptional sparkle due to their high refractive index and strong dispersion, which can produce a lively brilliance comparable to fine diamonds. Zircon occurs in many attractive colors including blue, red, orange, yellow, brown, green, and colorless varieties, making it a fascinating gemstone for collectors and jewelry designers.
You can explore our available selection of natural zircon gemstone collection to see the different colors and cutting styles available.
Blue Zircon
Blue zircon is one of the most well-known varieties of zircon and is widely appreciated for its vivid color and brilliance. Many of the finest blue zircons originate from Cambodia. These stones are typically produced by heat treatment of natural brown zircon, which enhances the attractive blue color.
The intensity of the blue color often determines the value of the gemstone. Deeper and more vivid blue stones are generally more desirable. Due to zircon's optical properties, blue zircon gemstones are often cut deeper than many other gemstones. A deeper pavilion helps enhance the richness and intensity of the blue color, even though the face-up size of the stone may appear slightly smaller compared to its total depth.
You can browse examples of these stones within our natural zircon collection.
Red Zircon
Natural red zircon from Tanzania is among the rarest and most striking zircon varieties. These gemstones display vivid reddish tones with remarkable brilliance and are highly prized by collectors.
Several years ago, small deposits in Tanzania produced exceptionally fine red zircons with intense color. Today, production from these sources is limited, making high-quality red zircon increasingly difficult to obtain. Fine stones with strong color and good clarity can command premium prices due to their rarity.
Orange, Yellow and Other Natural Zircon Colors
Zircon occurs naturally in a wide spectrum of colors including orange, golden yellow, champagne, pink, and brown tones. Many of these stones originate from African sources and are valued for their natural color and lively brilliance.
Unlike blue zircon, many of these colorful zircon varieties are not heat treated and display their beautiful hues naturally. Well-cut specimens can show remarkable sparkle due to zircon’s strong double refraction and high dispersion.
These varieties are also part of the broader natural zircon selection available.
Green Zircon
Green zircon is another fascinating variety. While green zircon is occasionally found in African deposits, stones with strong and attractive green color are relatively uncommon.
Some of the finest green zircons originate from Sri Lanka, where select deposits produce attractive stones with bright and appealing green tones. These gemstones are especially valued by collectors for their distinctive color and rarity.
Zircon Properties
Hardness: 6.5 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale
Refractive Index: Approximately 1.93 – 1.98
Specific Gravity: Around 4.6 – 4.7
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Zircon is known for its strong birefringence, meaning light entering the gemstone splits into two rays. This property contributes to zircon’s unique brilliance and distinctive optical character.
Zircon vs Cubic Zirconia
Natural zircon should not be confused with cubic zirconia. Cubic zirconia is a synthetic material used as a diamond simulant, while zircon is a naturally occurring gemstone formed over millions of years. Despite the similar names, the two materials are completely different.
Zircon Price and Value
Zircon gemstone prices vary depending on color, clarity, size, and origin. Blue zircon is generally the most popular, while rare varieties such as red zircon can command higher prices due to their limited availability.
Well-cut zircon stones with good transparency and strong brilliance are typically more valuable. Larger stones with vivid color and minimal inclusions are especially sought after by collectors and jewelry designers.
Buying Natural Zircon Gemstones
Natural zircon gemstones are appreciated by collectors, gemstone enthusiasts, and jewelry designers for their brilliance, unique colors, and natural beauty. Well-cut zircon stones can display exceptional sparkle, making them attractive center stones for distinctive jewelry designs.
If you are looking to buy natural zircon gemstones online, you can browse our collection of loose natural zircon gemstones to explore different colors, sizes, and cutting styles, or explore our rare gemstone collection for unique and collectible stones.
