1.71 ct Wine-Red Oval Natural Zircon Set of 2 Stones

*Please note all loose gemstones are sold on behalf of a third-party wholesaler and pricing is therefore linked to the US$. Regular price updates are performed in order to accommodate fluctuations in the exchange rate and may be carried out without prior notice. Dispatch on loose gemstones will take place 2 working days after purchase to allow for shipping from the supplier to my studio. I do regular inventory updates with them to ensure accuracy, but since these stones are also offered for sale to other jewellery designers, it may happen that a particular stone is no longer available at the time of purchase. In such a case you will receive the opportunity to change your order or a full refund.

This set of wine-red natural zircon equals 1.71 carat.

Zircon (zirconium silicate) is a mineral, and should not be confused with synthetic, man-made cubic zirconia (zirconium dioxide), also known by its abbreviation, CZ. Zircon is extremely difficult to match in both size and colour, and therefore sets are often not exactly matched. This pair is close enough in both colour and size that any variation will not be noticeable once they are set in earrings. These stones are sold as a set.

* A note on Matched Sets: Due to the fact that these stones were cut by hand, the angle at which they lie flat on the surface during photography is not always the same, which may cause them to reflect the light differently and therefore not look like they were matched. If you are unsure, you are more than welcome to get in touch for additional photographs or videos of the stones, or perhaps to book a viewing in person.

Zircon is the traditional December birthstone, as well as the 4th (blue) and 11th (yellow – also known as hyacinth) wedding anniversary stone.

Weight: 2 = 1.71 carat
Cut: Mixed
Colour: Bright purplish-red
Length: 6.1 mm each
Width: 7.8 mm each
Depth: 4.3 mm each
Origin: Africa
Treatment: Unheated
Certificate: No – Can be certified at an extra charge.

About Zircon:

Species: Zircon
Chemical composition: zirconium silicate
Deposits found in: Burma, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, France, Australia, Brazil, Korea, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Vietnam.
Known colours: Colourless, yellow, brown, orange, red, violet, blue, green.
Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 7.5

Zircon is a natural mineral and, most probably takes its name from the Persian word zargun, which means golden coloured. The colour variety most likely responsible for that description, has historically been referred to as hyacinth (which also includes orange or reddish brown varieties), and is mentioned in several ancient texts, including the Old Testament of the Bible. When cut, zircon exhibits exceptional brilliance and a diamond-like fire and luster. Well cut colourless specimens closely resemble diamond.

Zircon is the perfect stone for low-light environments like evening functions and comes alive in warm lighting.

Zircon is available in most colours of the spectrum, though the majority of the material on the market today is heat treated to achieve a sky blue colour.

VARIETIES OF ZIRCON:

Blue Zircon: This variety displays the same sky blue as most commercial blue topaz, but with more fire and brilliance. Blue zircon is sensitive to scrapes and knocks so care should be taken when setting them in rings. It is usually cut quite deep in order to produce as much brilliance as possible.

Green Zircon: Mostly mined in Sri Lanka, this variety can also be grayish or yellowish.

Hyacinth: This variety includes all yellow-orange and orange-brown specimens. The colour is usually improved by heat treatment.

Synthetic zircon can be produced, but is only of scientific interest and the process is not commercially viable.

Please note: We take great care to ensure that the photographs are an accurate representation of the actual stone, but due to differences in screen quality and resolution, and the fact that the colour of a gemstone is dependent on the type of light it is viewed in, some variation is possible.

Stock Code: RM943214