3.88 ct Pear Shape Deep Red Natural Zircon

This lovely 3.88 carat natural zircon is the colour of a young red wine, and will compliment an evening ensemble with a touch of rich luxury. Zircon (zirconium silicate) is a natural mineral, and should not be confused with synthetic, man-made cubic zirconia (zirconium dioxide), also known by its abbreviation, CZ.

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

Weight: 3.88 carat
Cut: Pear shaped mixed cut
Colour: Deep wine red
Length: 10.15 mm
Width: 7.25 mm
Depth: 5.91 mm
Treatment: Unknown – Assumed heat treated
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.