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Zircon

Introduction
 

	Zircon is a gem whose brilliant luster, fire and bright hues make it an enjoyable addition to any jewelry collection.
Legends & Lore
	Carved Zircon has been found in some of the most ancient archaeological sites.
	Zircon’s name is either derived from the Arabic word “Zarkun” meaning “Red”, or a combination of the ancient Persian words “Zar” (gold) and “Gun” (color). Despite this name, Zircon actually occurs in a myriad of coolers.
	Zircon has appeared in literature under a variety of names including Jargon (Yellow Zircon), Jacinth (Red Zircon), Matara Diamond (White Zircon), Starlite (Blue Zircon), Hyacinth (Blue Zircon) and Ligure.

Zircon, the birthstone for December, is first mentioned in the ancient Indian tale of the Kalpa Tree. Described by Hindu poets as the ultimate gift to the gods, it was a bright glowing tree with bejeweled leaves of Zircon.
 

The gemstone of fiery starlight, Jewish legends say that Zircon was the name of the guardian angel sent to watch over Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
 

The Roman historian, Pliny the Elder, compared Blue Zircon’s color to Hyacinth flowers. In Greek Mythology, a discus thrown by the God Apollo accidentally killed a young boy named Hyacinth. Wherever his blood spilled gorgeous Blue Hyacinths grew.
 

In the Bible, Zircon is one of the twelve gemstones set in the foundations of the city walls of Jerusalem. Andreas, Bishop of Caesurae, associated Zircon with the Apostle Simon.
 

Traditionally, Zircon is a gem of purity and innocence. Zircon is believed to promote inner peace while providing the wearer with wisdom, honor and riches. Legend also has it that a Zircon’s loss of luster is a warning of imminent danger.
 

Zircon’s popularity grew dramatically in the 16th Century when Italian artisans featured the gem in jewelry designs. In the 1880’s Blue Zircon was widely used in Victorian jewelry.
 

Although Zircon's existence predates Cubic Zirconia by centuries, Zircon is often unfairly confused with Cubic Zirconia. Cubic Zirconia is a cheap, synthetic diamond substitute that resembles colorless Zircon and has a similar sounding name. While Zircon may also be used as a Diamond substitute, it is valuable in its own right.
 

The fire in Zircon, called dispersion, is caused by light entering the gemstone and separating into a prism of rainbow colors. Possessing dispersion approaching that of diamond, the brilliance of Zircon is second to none. The Zircon Cut, a variation of the Brilliant Cut that adds eight extra facets to the pavilion, was designed to take advantage of these properties.
 

A very unique characteristic of Zircon is birefringence (doubly refractive), meaning that light splits into two rays as it passes through the gem. As a result, the back facets appear as double images.
 

Zircon is mined in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Nigeria. In fact, despotis of Zircon have even ben found on the moon!
 

Cambodia is arguably the world’s premiere source for gorgeous Zircon. Sixty-three miles North of Angkor Wat, close to the Cambodian-Thai border, lay the mines of Preah Vihear, the source of some of the world’s finest Blue Zircon. Remote, primitive and stunningly beautiful, Ratanakiri is another major center for Cambodian Zircon. Ratanakiri literally means “Gemstone Mountain”. South of the city a mining camp has been carved from the forest, where workers toil to extract Blue Zircon from narrow mine shafts that tap into an alluvial layer about 15 feet below the surface.