Teal Zircon: The December Birthstone Guide
What Is the December Birthstone?
What Are the Characteristics of the December Birthstone?
Zircon is often confused with the synthetic cubic zirconia because of the similarity of their names and shared use as simulated diamonds. But zircon is actually a “spectacular natural gemstone available in a variety of colors” (“Zircon Overview”).
While it most commonly comes in a brownish red, most zircon are heat treated until they are colorless, gold, or teal (the most popular color). Teal zircon is actually the December birthstone.
The color differences in zircon are caused by impurities, which can be radioactive; for example, some of the impurities are uranium. So zircon is also heat treated to stabilize the radioactivity (“Zircon Overview”).
What Is the History of the December Birthstone?
Zircon is actually the oldest mineral on Earth, dating back more than 4.4 billion years! Earth itself is approximately 4.56 billion years old (“Zircon Chronology”). Formed by crystallization from magma, zircons are so durable that they rarely go away. They can survive a number of geologic events, which are recorded in the rings of the zircon that grow around the original crystal like rings in a tree (“Zircon Chronology”).
While many people have heard of zircon, not many have seen it because of the wide use of colorless zircon as a simulated diamond in the early 1900s. Thus, to many people, the name “zircon” is associated with imitation, but the colored stone is beautiful in its own right and has its own wonderful history and lore (“Zircon History and Lore”).
Some scholars believe the name zircon is thought to have come from the Arabic word zarkun, meaning “cinnabar” or “vermillion.” Others think the name comes from the Persian word zargun, which means “gold colored.” Because zircon has such a wide range of colors, either is possible (“Zircon Overview”).
In the Middle Ages, people believed that zircon could help them sleep, ward off evil, and bring them riches and wisdom. In Victorian times, teal zircon was a favorite; these fine gems were often featured in English estate jewelry dating from the 1880s.
George Kunz, Tiffany’s famed gem buyer, was a famous advocate for zircon. He wanted to change the name of zircon to “starlite” to promote the gem’s fiery nature, but the name never caught on (“Zircon History and Lore”).
Where Can You Find the December Birthstone?
Zircon from Australia dates back 4.4 billion years! Australia is still the leading zircon miners, producing 37 percent of the world’s zircon supply. Other zircon sources include Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Cambodia, Canada, and the United States (“Zircon Overview”).