Zircon)

Known to represent the planet Venus, these fiery, earthy gems with their fresh vibrancy are noted to bring good luck and fortune. Mined naturally in an array of different colors, here are some of the different varieties and their trade names:

Matara/ Matara Diamond: Represents the colorless variety of zircon.

Starlite: Named after George Kunz, Starlite was used for the Blue variety to emphasize its radiance. 

Jacinth or Hyacinth: Represents the reddish-brown, orangey-brown, or red-hued zircon gems.

Jargon: Represents the colorless, pale grey, pale yellow varieties of zircon.

One of the oldest known gemstones, Zircons has been used to heal people through generations. Growing in popularity in the 1920s, Zircons have remained well demanded in jewelry for their versatility, high brilliance, and fiery flashes of color. Birthstone for the month of December, the gem's magnificent color and luster is often confused for the beautiful diamond. 

• Boosts creativity

• Offers good health 

• Boosts marital bliss

• A roothing gem, it heals cramps and various hormonal problems

• Offers to heal for asthma 

• Encourages financial growth 

Naturally opulent, the oldest Zircons date back to 4.5 million years, almost as old as the planet itself, adding to the history and the value of each gemstone. Easily confused for Zirconium, a synthetic, man-made gem, understanding what differentiates and adds value to a natural Zircon is essential.

Color:  Known for their high brilliance and saturated, lustrous colors, the body color of zircon is everything that attracts attention. Natural greens with a strong fire tend to demand extremely high values because of their rarity. Vivid blues paired with an adamantine luster lie close behind as these gems have become a popular choice. Clear whites, reds, earthy, elegant browns, and oranges also tend to demand attention when paired with all other quality factors. 

Cut: Cut offers the zircon a unique appearance and artisans usually maximize the beauty of a gemstone at the time of cutting. Fashioned as perfectly round gems, ovals or cushions with a mixed cut, it allows maximum light return from within the gemstone. A skillfully finished gemstone that can display a beautiful blend of two colors that converge into one makes for a visual stunner without emphasizing its natural doubling effect. 

Clarity: A clean appearance to the naked eye and typically free from internal features, cloudiness, and smoky appearances makes a zircon inherently higher in terms of quality. An eye clean gem paired with rich, sensual color, a spectacular shape, and cut is the basis for an excellent gem.  

Carat Weight: A natural gemstone that is rarely found in big sizes, some of the largest gemstones come from the southeast Asian regions. Zircons are one of the heaviest gemstones available on the market, with a specific gravity (SG) at 3.90 to 4.73. This makes a 1-carat zircon appear much smaller than a 1 carat diamond for instance. Popular sizes fall between 1 to 8-carat gems. Pinkish colored zircons are relatively smaller in size. 

Did You Know: These age-old gems are frequently radioactive and are treated through heat to stabilize the effects of the radioactivity within the gemstone. When exposed to UV lamps at nail salons it can sometimes alter the color of a gem. 

Treatment: Zircons are almost always heat treated. This helps improve the natural color of the gemstone and also stabilizes the radioactivity present within the gem, making it safe for use in everyday jewelry. Blue Zircons are almost always heat-treated to create those desirable greenish blues.

Magnificently refined, the colorful hues of the zircon have become a popular choice in studded jewelry today. The gem’s strong fire and true sparkle comparable to only the diamond adds to its beauty once set. An excellent choice for jewelry, the sensual yet vivid colors of the gemstone add character and charm to every piece. With good hardness between  6-7.5 on the mohs scale, zircons with their high refraction must be cared for. Set with protective settings, it prevents the gemstone from daily aberration and chips and nicks. 

The quality factors of zircon are interlinked and determine the final value of the gem. 

Color: Greens and bright reds are some of the highest valued natural zircons available on the market with blues following close behind encompassing maximum zircon sales recorded. It is also very rare to find a purely transparent, and clear white zircon making these gems increasingly valuable. Blue Zircons or Starlite gems often sell for values that can reach ……………….. A carat. 

Cut: The price of zircon is can be dependant on its cut. A good cut, one that minimizes the doubling seen within the gem, with perfect facet junctions and minimum aberrations pushes the value of the gemstone higher. Windows in faceting, allowing for patches of darkness present within lower the visual beauty and can drop the value of the gem. 

Zircons range in value from anywhere in between Rs 100 to Rs 4,000 a carat.

Caring for your Zircon is imperative. Gemstones over time tend to attract dirt and grime and need an occasional bath. 

A safe way to clean your Zircon jewelry is:

• Place gemstone studded jewelry in a bowl of warm soapy water, away from a basin

• In the bowl gently scrub the piece lightly with an old, soft-bristled toothbrush

• In the bowl, rinse with clean water 

• Wipe dry

Bowl is to catch gemstones that might come out of their setting but can be returned to the jeweler to be reset. 

Do not clean zircon studded jewelry in an ultrasonic machine/ bath as the gemstone can sometimes chip due to the vibrations. 

Jewelry pieces set with enamel and Kundan work should never be washed or put into an ultrasonic machine.