SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ZIRCON - Zircon is regarded as the traditional birthstone for December. Zircon is the oldest known stone on earth!!! Much older than diamonds - and just as brilliant. For centuries, people thought these gemstones were actually diamonds. The fiery brilliance of zircon rivals diamonds and any other gemstone. Zircons are double refractive - if you look deeply into the photos, you will see a slight blur or doubling of the facets - it’s just one of the things that make this gemstone spectacular!
As one of the heaviest gemstones, Zircons will weigh more than other stones with the same measurements. Zircon is also hard, making it perfect for any jewelry! There is a descriptive word in the gem trade for the ‘Top Gem, World Class’ gemstones - they are referred to as “Gemmy”. This is definitely a ‘gemmy’ ring!
Natural zircon today suffers on account of the similarity of its name to “cubic zirconia”, the laboratory-grown diamond imitation is NOT related to natural zircon in any way! Many people are unaware that there is a beautiful natural gemstone called Zircon.
This gemstone is natural and is straight from the mines of Cambodia, cut in the Royal Asscher shape - a type of square princess cut - and with the double refraction and high dispersion inherent in this gemstone, you won’t believe your eyes when you wear it in sunlight! Zircons are the only gemstone that have higher dispersion than diamonds (more flash)!
Cambodian Blue Zircons are rare - and will become MUCH rarer. They were mined from only 2 mines in Cambodia, and both mines have recently shut down due to lack of quality material found. The family that owned the mines have sold the property to real estate investors and there is currently (2011) a high-rise apartment complex being constructed over the mines. Although there still is material in the marketplace being cut, the prices are jumping skyward and the rarity of the gemstone increases and the public begins to recognize a very spectacular and special gem. No more of this material (blue zircon) has been found anywhere. There are still mines producing other Zircon colors, but blue appears to be gone forever.
The wide variety of colors of zircon, its rarity, beauty, and its affordability make it a popular collector’s stone and contributes to its growing popularity among jewelry designers and gem lovers.