Are zircon and American diamond the same?

If zircon had a résumé, it would be seriously impressive. This is a natural gemstone, mined straight from the earth. In fact, zircon crystals are among the oldest minerals on the planet – some dating back over four billion years. Let that sink in.

Chemically known as zirconium silicate, zircon has a stunning visual quality. It has a high refractive index, which basically means it catches light beautifully and gives off that diamond-like sparkle.

One of its coolest features? Double refraction.

When light enters the stone, it splits into two rays. If you look closely, the back facets of a zircon can actually appear doubled – something you won’t see in diamonds or most other stones.

While the colourless version is often used as a diamond alternative, zircon also comes in earthy tones like yellow, brown, and red. With heat treatment, it can even turn into a striking blue.

That said, it’s not the toughest stone out there. With a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7.5, it’s fairly durable but slightly brittle. One wrong knock, and it could chip.