Zircon is a beautiful, naturally occurring gemstone admired for its brilliance and range of colors. Its key characteristics include:

• Colors: Zircon is available in various hues, including colorless (often used as a diamond substitute), blue (the most popular variety), golden yellow, brown, green, and reddish tones. Heat treatments often enhance its colors.

• Luster: Zircon has a high refractive index, giving it exceptional brilliance and fire, similar to diamonds.

• Durability: It has a Mohs hardness of 6 to 7.5, making it relatively durable but susceptible to scratches and chipping.

• Crystal System: Zircon crystallizes in the tetragonal system, forming prismatic crystals with sharp edges.

• Composition: Its chemical formula is ZrSiO4 (zirconium silicate), often containing trace amounts of uranium and thorium.

Zircon is often confused with cubic zirconia, a synthetic gemstone, but the two are distinct. Natural zircon is highly valued in jewelry, while cubic zirconia is a lab-created material.