The facts
What zircon actually is
The species behind zircon is zircon, ZrSiO₄; it forms in the tetragonal system.
Trace uranium and thorium; radiation damage lowers the constants 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 1.810–1.984 and a specific gravity of about 3.90–4.73, with imperfect cleavage.
Where zircon comes from
Commercial material comes from Ratanakiri, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tanzania and Australia.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How zircon is treated
Blue zircon is heated brown zircon, and the treatment is universal.
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 zircon is confused with
Watch for Cubic zirconia — an unrelated synthetic, Diamond and Aquamarine — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.810–1.984 and specific gravity 3.90–4.73 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What zircon is used for
The trades that buy zircon are jewellery, mineral collecting and technical and precision components. 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, by the specimen or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6–7.5; cleavage imperfect. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 zircon costs
Expect roughly $10–300/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 zircon treated, and how?
Blue zircon is heated brown zircon, and the treatment is universal.
Where does zircon come from?
Ratanakiri, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tanzania and Australia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is zircon hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 6–7.5 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but imperfect cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does zircon cost?
Indicatively $10–300/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 zircon confused with?
Most often Cubic zirconia — an unrelated synthetic, Diamond and Aquamarine. A refractive index of 1.810–1.984 and a specific gravity near 3.90–4.73 separate it quickly.
What is zircon used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and technical and precision components. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for 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 zircon