The facts
What blue Zircon actually is
The species behind blue Zircon is zircon, ZrSiO₄; it forms in the tetragonal system.
Colour centre produced by heating brown zircon under reducing conditions is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.925–1.984 and a specific gravity of about 4.60–4.73, with imperfect; brittle edges cleavage.
Where blue Zircon comes from
Commercial material comes from Ratanakiri, Cambodia, Chanthaburi, Thailand (cutting and heating centre) and Mogok, Myanmar.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How blue Zircon is treated
Effectively 100% heat-treated: brown Cambodian zircon heated to roughly 900–1,000 °C in a reducing atmosphere. The treatment is standard, expected and undetectable, but a minority of stones revert toward brown under prolonged UV or sunlight. Natural blue zircon is essentially unknown in commerce.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What blue Zircon is confused with
Watch for Aquamarine, Blue topaz, Blue spinel, Paraíba tourmaline and Blue glass — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.925–1.984 and specific gravity 4.60–4.73 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What blue Zircon is used for
The trades that buy blue Zircon are jewellery and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Blue Zircon is 6.5–7.5 on the Mohs scale, with imperfect; brittle edges cleavage.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What blue Zircon costs
Expect roughly $30–400/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is blue Zircon treated, and how?
Effectively 100% heat-treated: brown Cambodian zircon heated to roughly 900–1,000 °C in a reducing atmosphere. The treatment is standard, expected and undetectable, but a minority of stones revert toward brown under prolonged UV or sunlight. Natural blue zircon is essentially unknown in commerce.
Where does blue Zircon come from?
Ratanakiri, Cambodia, Chanthaburi, Thailand (cutting and heating centre) and Mogok, Myanmar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is blue Zircon hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 6.5–7.5 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but imperfect; brittle edges cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does blue Zircon cost?
Indicatively $30–400/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is blue Zircon confused with?
Most often Aquamarine, Blue topaz, Blue spinel, Paraíba tourmaline and Blue glass. A refractive index of 1.925–1.984 and a specific gravity near 4.60–4.73 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for blue zircon?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about blue zircon