Blue zircon
Zircon is a natural stone, one of the oldest minerals known on Earth. Cut, it offers remarkable brilliance and fire, and its blue is among the most vivid of any gem.
Maiwis editorial team
A natural stone, often misunderstood
Zircon suffers from a confusion of names. It gets mixed up with cubic zirconia, zirconium oxide, a synthetic stone made to imitate diamond. Zircon itself is a natural mineral, a zirconium silicate. Some zircon crystals are among the oldest minerals known on Earth.
Zircon exists in many colours: yellow, orange, red, green or brown. It is its blue, vivid and luminous, that makes it the most sought after in jewellery.
What gives a blue zircon its value
| Criterion | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Colour | A vivid, saturated blue, pure or slightly greenish depending on taste. |
| Brilliance | Zircon has a very lively brilliance and fire close to a diamond’s. A fine cut brings them out. |
| Cut | The stone is oriented to limit the visible doubling of the facets. |
| Clarity | Blue zircon is often very clean. |
| Treatment | Heating is almost systematic for the blue, and it must be disclosed. |
The treatment
Nearly all blue zircons are brown zircons that have been heated. Heating reveals the blue. It is a common treatment, accepted provided it is stated on the report.
Origins
Cambodia, in the province of Ratanakiri, is the main source of blue zircon. Gem-quality zircons are also found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Vietnam, Tanzania and Australia.
Wearing a blue zircon
Zircon offers a spectacular blue for a budget much gentler than a sapphire’s. Its edges need a little care. It is perfect as a pendant or earrings, and suits a ring if the setting protects the stone.
Blue zircon: the weight and cut you choose
The House does not hold a fixed stock. You describe what you are looking for, we search through our sources and present a short selection.
The weight
From a few tenths of a carat up to major collector pieces. Give us a range, for example 2 to 3 carats.
The cut
Oval, cushion, emerald cut, round, pear, heart, radiant or cabochon: the shape is chosen according to the jewel you will have made.
The colour
The shade, the intensity and the treatments you accept or exclude. The more precise the request, the faster the search.
As soon as a stone matches, we send you its photographs, a video, its laboratory report and its price, with no obligation. You then decide. The House supplies the exceptional stone; the jewel is made by the jeweller of your choice. Orders are taken worldwide, and stones can be viewed in person in Paris, by appointment.
Place an orderFrequently asked questions
Are zircon and zirconia the same thing?
No. Zircon is a natural mineral. Cubic zirconia is a synthetic stone made to imitate diamond.
Is blue zircon fragile?
Its hardness lies between 6.5 and 7.5, but its edges wear more easily than those of a sapphire. For a ring worn every day, a protective setting is advisable.
Why do the facets sometimes look doubled?
Zircon has strong birefringence: light splits within it. Looking through the stone, the edges at the back can appear doubled. It is one of the signs that help identify it.
