December is a month of many birth stones. Throughout the years, it has included such diverse gemstones as bloodstone, ruby, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and more among its varied birthstones. But, one of the most beautiful modern December birthstones is blue zircon, a somewhat less common household name. And while blue zircon may be less commonly known, it happens to also be one of the most stunning and exquisite birthstones of them all for its intense blue color, clarity (zircon is generally free of inclusions which muddle the interiors of other stones), and character, all of which are among the many reasons our customers at Knox Jewelers love to use blue zircon in their hand-crafted jewelry.
The history of zircon is as rich and interesting as the histories of other birthstones – and oftentimes it is more so. During the Middle Ages in Europe, zircon had an aura of colorful superstitions surrounding it. In particular, many people thought that the gem could defeat insomnia and induce sleep, defend them against supposedly evil spirits, and bring such things as riches, wealth, honor, and wisdom. As for the etymology of the word “zircon,” scholars are divided. Some researchers contend that the name of zircon stems from an Arabic word zarkun, which means vermilion or cinnabar. Other scholars believe that the word is Persian in origin. In particular, they believe it comes from the Persian word zargun, which means gold colored. Given the many different varieties of zircon besides blue zircon, this might explain the various historical interpretations of the gem.
Blue zircon looks absolutely stunning in all kinds of jewelry, including engagement rings, pendants, and earrings. It reached its peak of historical popularity during the Victorian era, wherein many wealthy English citizens would use it estate jewelry like the kinds just listed. But, the progression of time has not dampened the popularity of blue zircon as the center stone of the jewelry we craft by hand here at Knox Jewelers. Many of our esteemed customers have been thrilled to see the final product of their hand-picked zircon jewelry. In fact, blue zircon accounts for the overwhelming majority of zircon stones used in our pieces, and it has been found by industry surveys to be the absolute most popular zircon variant on the market – 80 percent of all zircons in circulation happen to be blue ones, thus showing that many consumers prefer this variant over the other colors.
Zircons are graded according to a strict set of measurements which determine the overall quality of the gem. Due to the interactions of radioactive elements and other sources of wear and tear, some zircons are considered more valuable than others. Gemologists classify zircons according to three different levels: low, intermediate, and high, depending on the amount of damage done by the aforementioned radioactive elements. At Knox Jewelers, we use only the highest quality of blue zircon gems that have negligible inclusions within them. Thus, they look elegant and beautiful in each and every piece our metal smiths and artist handcraft for our customers.
Blue Zircon looks absolutely stunning and beautiful in any piece. We have used them in engagement rings, wedding bands, and earrings, among many other kinds of jewelry. The blue color and texture of the gem can be readily used in conjunction with a variety of different base metals, including silver, platinum, and gold – the choice is ultimately yours, and you certainly cannot go wrong with any one of these options. We would also be happy to discuss with you what kinds of metals and colors best complement the beauty of blue zircon.
Finally, blue zircon has fair to good toughness and is in general stable when exposed to light. It is also stable when exposed to chemicals. As for cleaning, we generally recommend that our customers use warm and soapy water. As for its cut, there are a variety of different cuts we can use for zircon, and we would be happy to discuss them with you. They can range from step cuts to a modified brilliant cut, known as the zircon cut.
We hope you enjoyed learning about blue zircon. For that special someone in your life who was lucky enough to be born in December, a blue zircon ring or pendant from Knox Jewelers can be the perfect gift.
