DECEMBER’S BIRTHSTONE FACT FILE
We just love working with Zircon. Beautiful, dazzling, mysterious and ancient, this stunning gemstone is prized by jewelers and jewelry fans alike, and provides a constant source of wonderment for geologists, too.
Indeed, zircon is of considerable value to the scientific community, as it is among the oldest gemstones to be found anywhere in the world - the oldest zircon gemstone dates back over four billion years - that’s the same age as the planet we all live on!
WHAT DOES ZIRCON LOOK LIKE?
Zircon probably reached its peak during the 19th century, when it was used as a substitute for diamonds. Because of the similarity between the names, December’s birthstone zircon is commonly confused with cubic zirconia, which is a kind of imitation diamond, and yet it is a fascinating, dazzling and beautiful gemstone in its own right.
It is a versatile and varied gemstone, coming in a range of utterly beautiful colours - red, brown, yellow, orange and clear examples are all found on the market - although its sparkling, deep and hypnotic blue form is perhaps the most famous, and understandably the most sought-after. This range of colours, and its inherent brilliance, sparkle and fire, make it a highly popular gemstone to be set in jewelry destined for birthday and anniversary gifts - there’s sure to be an affordable zircon out there in your beloved’s favourite colour, and if their birthday falls in December, then zircon is their birthstone, too.
PROPERTIES OF ZIRCON
As with most gemstones, there are all sorts of mystical and mythical properties associated with December’s popular and beautiful birthstone. In ancient times, zircon was a gemstone deeply associated with protection; it was said that to wear a zircon was to protect yourself and your family from the evil eye, from nightmares and dangers on the road.
It was - and still is, in certain quarters - also associated with pain relief and convalescence from illness. Whether you believe in such things or not, there is certainly a romance and fascination to these ancient tales of myth and magic, and even the most cynical of us cannot help but be bewitched by this beautiful stone.
HOW DO I CARE FOR MY ZIRCON JEWELRY?
As for real, quantifiable properties, zircon is a moderately hard gemstone. However, it is nowhere near as hard as diamonds, rubies or sapphires, and as such, it does need plenty of loving care to ensure it retains its brilliance and sparkle. On top of this, most zircons have been heat-treated, in order to enhance their natural colour.
If this is the case, we recommend that zircon owners take care not to allow their zircon jewelry to have too much exposure to direct light: it’s possible this will affect the colour of your gemstone, and cause it to return slightly to its natural hue.
Cleaning your zircon gemstone really is a piece of cake. We always advise our valued customers to clean their jewelry simply, with little more than soap and warm water. This is more than enough to remove the build-up of daily dirt and grime.