Eos Silver

Zircon

This gemstone has been known since ancient times and is even referred to in the Bible. The name is derived from the Persian for “being of gold hue”. It is important not to mistake zircon for zirconia which is just a synthetic diamond stimulant.

In chemical terms, zircon with its wide palette of colours is made up of zirconium silicate. Natural deposits come in a wide array of colours from brown, orange, violet, and red, on through blue and green with some varieties even being colourless. The brilliance of zircon is due to its high hardness value (Mohs scale 6.5-7.5) and high degree of refraction. An additional feature of this gem is what is known as pleochroism or multiple colour reflection. This makes blue zircons in broad daylight appear to have a yellowy-grey hue or even become colourless. Brown zircon gems can be turned into colourless or blue varieties through heat treatment of between 800-1000°C. Sunlight as well as ultra violet light can have a distinct influence on the stone’s colour hues.

Zircon is generally known for its diamond-like sparkle and exceptional brilliance.