Imagine if you could capture the sky, encircle it with diamonds and hold it in your hand. The magic of antique, new and vintage zircon rings is like that, a piece of sky slipped onto your finger. The real splendor of zircon jewelry is its scintillation, its extraordinary sparkle, what Reshma Kothari of Diagem Imports, or DGI, calls its “brilliance and impressive fire, with flames of color that give off a lot of sparkle and shine — more so than other colored stones.”
That rainbow of colors and light effects makes zircon an especially versatile and attractive stone for jewelers, who increasingly are incorporating colored zircons into their designs, not only for engagement rings, but for cocktail rings. Indeed, notes jeweler Paolo Costagli, “because of its sparkly appearance, zircon lends itself to be worn as a single accessory. If you have a nice large zircon cocktail ring, you don’t need anything else.”
While blue zircon rings are the most frequently sought after, zircons stand out from most other gems in that, like diamonds, they can be found in several colors, from oranges and yellows to greens to pinks and reds. All except white zircons are lightly heat treated to create or enhance their colors, though nearly all are naturally pleochroic.
Nonetheless, for all its versatility and allure, zircon is not a stone best worn every day. The gem registers 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means that while harder than many other gemstones, it can chip more easily than rubies, sapphires and diamonds. You can help your zircon ring retain its brilliance by washing with hand soap, warm water and a soft brush. Keep your accessory in a dark place when it’s not being worn, wrapped well in a soft cloth or in a velvet box, will also help preserve the luster, the captivating radiance of this ancient, timeless jewel, eternal as the heavens and the stars.
Find antique, new and vintage zircon rings on 1stDibs.
