Zircon or Cubic Zirconia: The Confusion That Costs Dearly
It is one of the costliest confusions in the world of gems: zircon and cubic zirconia have nothing to do with each other. One is a splendid, underrated natural stone; the other, an industrial imitation worth a few euros. Confusing the two means missing out on a marvel — or paying a fortune for a synthetic.
Zircon: a genuine natural stone
Zircon is a natural mineral (zirconium silicate) mined in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Tanzania… It is even one of the oldest minerals on the planet: some Australian zircon crystals have been dated at over 4 billion years! In gemmology it is adored for its exceptional brilliance: its high refractive index and strong dispersion give it fire that rivals a diamond's. Blue, golden yellow, green, honey: its natural colours are superb.
Cubic zirconia: the industrial imitation
What is commonly called “zirconium” in costume jewellery is in fact cubic zirconia (CZ), a crystal manufactured entirely in factories since the 1970s to imitate diamond. Produced in unlimited quantities, it is worth a few euros. It has nothing to do with natural zircon — except a similar name that keeps the confusion alive… and sometimes gets CZ sold at the price of a gem.
How to never confuse them again
- Zircon = a natural stone, extracted from a mine, with inclusions and a possible certificate;
- Cubic zirconia / CZ = an imitation synthetic, perfect for costume jewellery, with no gemmological value;
- On an invoice, insist on the exact terms: “natural zircon” on one side, “cubic zirconia” on the other.
Zircon: a well-kept connoisseur's secret
Thanks to this unfair confusion, natural zircon remains very affordable relative to its beauty: large carats with spectacular fire for the price of an ordinary fine stone. Our untreated yellow and green zircons await you among our yellow gems and green gems — or come and admire their fire in Paris.
