Colors
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
- Green
- Blue (the December stone)
- Brown
- Gold
- Colorless
Browse other gems by color: Red · Orange · Yellow · Green · Blue · Brown · White and colorless
Where Zircon comes from
- Australia (about 37 percent of world supply)
- Thailand
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Cambodia
- Canada
- United States
Zircon meaning and history
The name: Probably from the Persian "zargun", gold colored.
Zircon is used in radiometric dating, which helps reveal how the Earth formed.
Meanings and powers attributed to gems are history and folklore. We report them; we do not claim a stone can do anything.
How hard is Zircon?
Zircon is 6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, where talc is 1, quartz 7 and diamond 10. Toughness, its resistance to chipping and breaking: fair to good, and can be brittle: facet edges can chip.
See every birthstone on the hardness chart
How to clean and care for Zircon
| Warm soapy water | Safe (recommended) |
|---|---|
| Ultrasonic cleaner | Not recommended |
| Steam cleaner | Not recommended |
Heat, light and chemicals: Stable to chemicals; heat can change some colors; some heat treated stones fade in long bright light.
Treatments to ask about
Commonly heat treated to make blue and colorless stones.
Can you wear Zircon every day?
Wear with care Can chip, crack or scratch. Protective settings, pendants and earrings are safer than everyday rings. Check other stones.
Compare Zircon
Turquoise vs Zircon · Tanzanite vs Zircon · Diamond vs Zircon
Frequently asked questions
What is Zircon?
A natural gem, not to be confused with man-made cubic zirconia. AGS calls it the oldest mineral on Earth: Australian zircons are about 4.4 billion years old.
What month is Zircon the birthstone for?
December. It shares the month with Turquoise and Tanzanite.
How hard is Zircon?
6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Toughness: fair to good, and can be brittle: facet edges can chip.
How do you clean Zircon?
Warm soapy water: safe (recommended). Ultrasonic cleaner: not recommended. Steam: not recommended.
What does Zircon symbolize?
Zircon is used in radiometric dating, which helps reveal how the Earth formed. These are traditions and history, not claims about what the stone can do.
Sources
- GIA: Zircon care and cleaning (hardness, toughness, stability, cleaning, treatments)
- AGS: Zircon (what it is, colors, sources, history)
- American Gem Society: Birthstones (birthstone months)
Checked October 16, 2026.