ZIRCON is said to be the oldest gem on earth and is far older than even the most ancient Diamond! This gem has such an amazing brilliance is because it is doubly refractive (also known as birefringence). As light enters the gem, it splits in two and effectively the facets on the pavilion act like a wall of mirrors, sending its double rays in different directions. When you combine this with the fact that it has an adamantine luster, you begin to realize why it is often confused with Diamonds. It has a hardness of 7.5 on Moh’s Scale. Zircon occurs in a wide spectrum of colors including yellow-golden, red, brown, cognac, blue and green. |