Natural Zircon Stone in Pakistan

Being sourced now

We do not have zircon listed yet. We are sourcing natural stones and will add each one individually, with its own photos, once it passes our checks. Send a message on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 with the colour, size or shape you want, and we will contact you when a suitable stone comes in. You can also email cod@gemstore.pk or use our contact page.

What zircon is

Zircon is zirconium silicate, one of the oldest minerals on earth; some grains have been dated to more than four billion years. It rates about 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale and has a high refractive index and strong dispersion, so a well-cut zircon shows lively sparkle and flashes of colour. It is also very dense, which means a zircon looks smaller than a quartz or topaz of the same carat weight. Important gem sources include Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tanzania and Australia.

Zircon is not cubic zirconia

The names cause endless confusion. Cubic zirconia (CZ) is a synthetic zirconium oxide made in factories and sold as a cheap diamond imitation. Zircon is a natural mineral mined from the ground. They differ in chemistry, optics and weight, and a gemmologist separates them easily. When a seller calls the sparkling stone in a ready-made ring "zircon", it is very often CZ. When we list zircon, it will be natural zircon only.

Colours and varieties

• Blue: the best known, from slightly greenish blue to pure blue. Almost all of it is produced by heating brown zircon.
• Colourless (white): also mostly heated, and long used as a natural alternative to diamond.
• Golden and yellow: honey to gold tones, natural or heated.
• Red, orange and brown: warm natural colours, often untreated.
• Green: often "low" zircon, whose crystal structure has broken down over time through natural radiation from within; it looks softer and slightly hazy.

How to tell real zircon from imitations

Zircon has strong double refraction. Look through the top of a faceted stone with a 10x loupe towards the back facets: in natural zircon you will usually see the facet edges doubled, as if drawn twice. CZ, glass and diamond do not show this. Zircon is also brittle, so worn stones often show small chips and scuffs along facet edges, a look the trade calls paper wear.

• Glass: round bubbles, little fire, and it warms quickly in the hand.
• Cubic zirconia: no doubling, very even colour and a flawless look.
• Synthetic spinel and blue topaz: sometimes sold as blue zircon; a lab separates them quickly.

See checking a gemstone before you buy and Dur-e-Najaf: rock crystal, glass or zircon?

Zircon and Gomed

Some sellers call honey or yellowish-brown zircon "Gomed". In gemmology, Gomed is hessonite, an orange-brown garnet. The two can look alike but are different minerals: hessonite shows a swirly, treacle-like texture inside and no doubled facets, while zircon is brighter, heavier and doubly refractive. If you want Gomed, see our garnet collection and Gomed (hessonite): who traditionally wears it and how to spot real.

Treatments

Heating is the norm for blue, colourless and many golden zircons. It is stable and widely accepted in the trade. A small number of heated blue stones can drift slightly in colour after long exposure to strong light, and a spell in ordinary daylight usually restores them. Any treatment we know of will be disclosed on the listing.

What drives value

For blue zircon, a strong, pure blue without a heavy green or grey cast is most wanted. Clarity matters because high brilliance shows inclusions clearly, so eye-clean stones are expected. Cut is important: a well-proportioned stone shows fire, while a poor cut looks glassy and dark. Size and the condition of the facet edges come next. Origin plays a smaller part than with sapphire or emerald.

In the bazaar zircon may be quoted per carat or per ratti; the gemstone ratti is 0.91 carat. Use our carat to ratti converter and the gemstone price guide to compare quotes on the same basis.

Care

Zircon is reasonably hard but brittle, so protect its edges. Pendants, earrings or a ring with a protective bezel suit it better than a tall claw setting for hard daily wear. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners and sudden heat, and do not store it loose with harder stones.

Zircon in tradition

In some Vedic astrology practice, colourless zircon is traditionally suggested as a substitute stone (uparatna) for diamond, linked with Venus, and yellow zircon is sometimes offered in place of yellow sapphire. These are customs, not promised outcomes. Speak to an astrologer or scholar you trust before choosing a stone for that reason.

Related stones you can buy now

For colourless stones, see white topaz and Dur-e-Najaf. For blue, browse blue topaz and aquamarine (Beruj).

When a stone is listed, you will be able to order it with Cash on Delivery anywhere in Pakistan, open the parcel and inspect it before paying the rider, and return it within 7 days if it is not right for you. Orders are dispatched in 1 to 2 working days by insured, tracked courier. A certificate is available on request, and independent lab testing can be arranged.