Zircon gemstone
Home ➤ Encyclopedia of gems ➤ Zircon gemstonePhysical properties of zircon
Hardness: | 7.5 out of 10 on the Mohs scale |
Luster: | strong glass, diamond |
Transparency: | transparent, translucent, opaque |
Color: | yellow, brown, reddish brown, colorless, grey, green, blue |
Characteristics of zircon
Zircon (Zirkon, from the Persian "zargun" - "golden color") is a mineral with a strong diamond luster. It has several other names - hyacinth (transparent zircon with a red or pink tint), jargon (yellow zircon), iacinth, yakint, stalite (or starlit, artificially processed blue zircon).
The color of zircon can be very different - from transparent to brown (up to black). However, in jewelry, transparent varieties are mainly used (especially hyacinths and jargons). Also now, with special processing of zircon (calcination), bright blue stones are obtained, which are called starlites.
Jewelry varieties of zircon gemstone:
- hyacinth - brown, red and pink zircon
- jargon - yellow zircon
- starlite (Siamese zircon) - blue zircon (often ennobled)
- azorite - green zircon
- matura-diamond - colorless zircon (often used as a substitute for diamond)
- purple zircon (rarely used)
However, you should be careful, often zircon has radioactive impurities.
How much is zircon
Zircon is an inexpensive gemstone. Large stones are priced between $60 and $200 per carat, depending on quality. And small stones will cost even less - from 10 to 30 dollars per carat.
★ Indicolite gemstone | |
See also: | ★ Nephrite gemstone |
★ Diamond gemstone |