Zircon A Diamond Substitute |
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Zircon Gemstone is one of the most brilliant gemstones, after diamonds. Zircon resembles the diamond and is often used as a substitute for a diamond. Though lesser in value than diamonds, they possess the brilliance of the diamond.
Natural zircon crystal occurs in a wide range of colors like earthy brown, yellow, green. The most beautiful and rare are the deep red zircons. But the most popular is the colorless variety, which looks more like diamond.
Zircon's are of two varieties, one is called High Zircon and the other Low Zircon. They are differentiated by their physical properties, by gemologists. Natural untreated zircon crystals are very rare and most of the zircons available are heat-treated.
In the Hindu mythology, Zircons were part of the Kalpa tree. The tree is a symbolic of a wishing tree that provided everything one wished for. It represented a glowing ensemble of precious stones which included diamonds, sapphires, rubies and zircons which represented the leaves.
The main regions where zircons are sourced are Thailand, Cambodia, Srilanka, Myanmar, and parts of Australia.
Zircon Trivia
- Zircon crystal is one of the heaviest gemstones, which looks smaller in size than other gemstones of the same weight.
- An important identification mark for Zircons is a strong double refraction which can easily be seen under the loupe at the facet edges.
- Due of its doubly refractive property genuine zircon gemstone can be easily distinguished from a diamond.
- It was believed that wearing a zircon would protect travelers from catching the plague.
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