I want a new name for zircon

[georgecostanza]

Can we all agree to start calling fine zircons by a different name? Historically, red zircons were called hyacinths, and the blue ones deserve a better name too. You should be able to wear a super gemmy and colorful multi-billion year old hyacinth, the oldest mineral on earth from before there was life on earth, without it being confused with fake cubic zirconia. No one wants to walk around telling people that they’re wearing a zircon. We don’t call rubies corundum. Let’s just change the name for gem purposes.

 

[glitterata]

Can we all agree to start calling fine zircons by a different name? Historically, red zircons were called hyacinths, and the blue ones deserve a better name too. You should be able to wear a super gemmy and colorful multi-billion year old hyacinth, the oldest mineral on earth from before there was life on earth, without it being confused with fake cubic zirconia. No one wants to walk around telling people that they’re wearing a zircon. We don’t call rubies corundum. Let’s just change the name for gem purposes.

Another nice old name is jargoon.

 

[georgecostanza]

Another nice old name is jargoon.

Sounds way better than zircon.

 

[glitterata]

Another nice old name is jargoon.

Also jacinth.

 

[georgecostanza]

Also jacinth.

Jacinth sounds nice and icy like the blue stones to me.

 

[Gloria27]

In ancient times red stones were called carbuncles, mostly garnets but people couldn't really tell the difference between them like we do now so bet other red stones got called a carbuncle including Zircons.

 

[georgecostanza]

In ancient times red stones were called carbuncles, mostly garnets but people couldn't really tell the difference between them like we do now so bet other red stones got called a carbuncle including Zircons.

I like this line of thinking to emphasize history, but a carbuncle is unfortunately also the name for a pretty nasty staph infection.

 

[Roselina]

I agree! Zircon is one of my favourite. Red an blue. I have one that is obviously called coca cola zircon because of its colour. I thought this was funny. Interesting inputs here, thank you!

 

[Gloria27]

I like this line of thinking to emphasize history, but a carbuncle is unfortunately also the name for a pretty nasty staph infection.

I know it's unfortunate. I too prefer the name hyacinth or Jacinth

 

[Autumn in New England]

So true! Your ring is lovely!! Brown zircon is sometimes called "cinnamon stone," which I like much better. It's my favorite brown gem (besides diamond). Some of you may recall this autumnal piece with FCDs.

 

[toomuchB]

If it had a more marketable name it would be more expensive, so I'm ok with it

There was (is?) some battle over red beryl (most accurate/accepted name) vs bixbite (sounds more exotic but not a name with mass appeal) vs red emerald (mass appeal). Red beryl stuck. I assume demand and pricing would be even higher if 'red emerald' stuck.

 

[georgecostanza]

If it had a more marketable name it would be more expensive, so I'm ok with it

There was (is?) some battle over red beryl (most accurate/accepted name) vs bixbite (sounds more exotic but not a name with mass appeal) vs red emerald (mass appeal). Red beryl stuck. I assume demand and pricing would be even higher if 'red emerald' stuck.

It's fascinating to think about how much a name could change the mass appeal. Red emerald sounds awesome. Zircon is one of those odd, rare gems with great color options that seems like it might be on the same path as spinel or tanzanite if someone can figure out how to disentangle it from cubic zirconia.

There's a company in Australia that bought up over a million carats of blue zircon last year. It's actually the red stuff that I personally like, though.

 

[toomuchB]

It's fascinating to think about how much a name could change the mass appeal. Red emerald sounds awesome. Zircon is one of those odd, rare gems with great color options that seems like it might be on the same path as spinel or tanzanite if someone can figure out how to disentangle it from cubic zirconia.

There's a company in Australia that bought up over a million carats of blue zircon last year. It's actually the red stuff that I personally like, though.

Yeah. I do appreciate Zircon's range of color. I am a bit obsessed with the 'reverse' color changing/shifting ones.
Tanzanite is another one with a name change, a well documented decision by Tiffany's via google search. Zoisite is not as pretty.
Same with Zultanite/diaspore. But I don't think the name change helped too much in that material.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

with my luck id be scared buying it incase it turned out to be CZ

 

[Starstruck8]

There's something to be said for 'zircon'. It gives you occasion to be an obnoxiously didactic prat...

A: I like your ring. What's the stone?
B: Thank you! It's an orange zircon.
A: [Looks puzzled] Err... Do you mean it's CZ? Not like you to wear....
B: No, it's not cubic zirconia. It's a natural mined zircon. Same chemical formula but a different crystal structure. Look at the cool double refraction...

This is why I have so few friends...

 

[Autumn in New England]

There's something to be said for 'zircon'. It gives you occasion to be an obnoxiously didactic prat...

A: I like your ring. What's the stone?
B: Thank you! It's an orange zircon.
A: [Looks puzzled] Err... Do you mean it's CZ? Not like you to wear....
B: No, it's not cubic zirconia. It's a natural mined zircon. Same chemical formula but a different crystal structure. Look at the cool double refraction...

This is why I have so few friends...

lol! Right?! This is why you have so many friends here.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

im a bit confused why it was called hycanth

i thought the very dark pink ones were more modern

 

[Crimson]

There's something to be said for 'zircon'. It gives you occasion to be an obnoxiously didactic prat...

A: I like your ring. What's the stone?
B: Thank you! It's an orange zircon.
A: [Looks puzzled] Err... Do you mean it's CZ? Not like you to wear....
B: No, it's not cubic zirconia. It's a natural mined zircon. Same chemical formula but a different crystal structure. Look at the cool double refraction...

This is why I have so few friends...

I could be your friend, together with @Autumn in New England and a thousand others here
Re: renaming I like the original Persian Zargun or Jargoon (not jargon, haha).
Imagine telling people, “it is a Persian Zargun. “
That would provide an opportunity to give a lecture on the oldest gem in the world, antiquity and jewellery, etc.

 

[Crimson]

No

im a bit confused why it was called hycanth

i thought the very dark pink ones were more modern

Now I want a bucketful of zircons

 

[toomuchB]

im a bit confused why it was called hycanth

i thought the very dark pink ones were more modern

And you username is Daisy. Love that for this reference. I don't know if we have a user named Rose-something. Does that mean the different colors should have the names Hyacinth, Daisy, Rose and the entire mineral renamed to Bucket? Pronounced Bouquet...

 

[Autumn in New England]

im a bit confused why it was called hycanth

i thought the very dark pink ones were more modern

Keeping up appearances! I watch this show all the time on BBC America. Love her!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Catmom]

I totally agree about the name. I love blue zircons. I checked out the jewelry section in a higher end department store once and asked if they had any blue zircons. The sales associate sniffed and said that they don't carry such things in this store. It took me a moment to realize she thought I was asking for cubic zirconia. Made me laugh.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I totally agree about the name. I love blue zircons. I checked out the jewelry section in a higher end department store once and asked if they had any blue zircons. The sales associate sniffed and said that they don't carry such things in this store. It took me a moment to realize she thought I was asking for cubic zirconia. Made me laugh.

I'm always disappointed in the lack of gem knowledge amongst sales associates in jewelry/department stores. They know diamonds and not much else... maybe also that sapphires are blue (sometimes), rubies are red, and emeralds are green.

 

[Nick_G]

There's something to be said for 'zircon'. It gives you occasion to be an obnoxiously didactic prat...

A: I like your ring. What's the stone?
B: Thank you! It's an orange zircon.
A: [Looks puzzled] Err... Do you mean it's CZ? Not like you to wear....
B: No, it's not cubic zirconia. It's a natural mined zircon. Same chemical formula but a different crystal structure. Look at the cool double refraction...

This is why I have so few friends...

No, they are completely different chemical formulas. Synthetic CZ is ZrO2, zircon is ZrSiO4.

IMHO zircon is another underappreciated gem.

 

[Starstruck8]

No, they are completely different chemical formulas. Synthetic CZ is ZrO2, zircon is ZrSiO4.

IMHO zircon is another underappreciated gem.

Thank you! Correct.

 

[Arcadian]

I don't mind the name and I love them in every color. Couple of favorites.


One of my bigger blues. Not the most saturated but It would have been ridiculously costly if it were. I was outside in overcast light.


another thats unset but absolutely beautiful (tiny but mighty) In full sun it will absolutely black out...lol but in some lights its super peachy, its shifty but beautiful. I always figured I'd set it in rose gold and white diamonds...eventually...lol



My green one is not as photogenic unfortunately but still pretty darn gorgeous in person.