Marcus Tempus
Rich, warm and full of fire, this pendant centres on a beautifully faceted whisky-brown zircon with flashes of amber, copper and golden brown.
The zircon is framed by a halo of brilliant diamonds and set in rose gold, whose warm blush tone complements the natural colour of the gemstone beautifully. Suspended from a delicate rose-gold chain, the piece feels elegant, distinctive and easy to wear.
A refined way to discover one of nature’s most brilliant and often overlooked gemstones.
The colour. This zircon has that unusual whisky tone that sits somewhere between amber, copper and soft brown, and the rose gold brings out every bit of warmth in it.
It’s also one of those gemstones that surprises you in person — zircon has an incredible natural brilliance, so even though the colour is rich and earthy, the stone still has loads of life and sparkle.
The diamond halo finishes it beautifully without taking attention away from the centre stone.
• Natural whisky-brown zircon
• Round brilliant-cut centre stone
• Diamond halo surround
• Rose gold setting
• Rose gold chain
• Exceptional brilliance and fire
• Distinctive warm-toned gemstone jewellery
The House of Gemstones
Natural zircon is one of the most brilliant coloured gemstones. Its combination of lustre and dispersion can produce beautiful spectral fire in a well-cut stone.
Warm whisky and cognac tones can move from golden honey to rich earthy brown, while zircon also occurs in blue, colourless, yellow, orange, red and green.
An Ancient Natural Mineral
Zircon is zirconium silicate, ZrSiO₄. Natural zircon crystals can preserve geological information over immense spans of Earth history.Zircon can be enjoyed regularly, but it deserves more care than sapphire or diamond. Clean gently with lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft brush or cloth.
Far Beyond Colourless
Warm brown zircon ranges through honey, amber, whisky, cinnamon and deep cognac tones, often with remarkable brilliance and golden flashes.
Blue zircon is loved for bright sky, aqua and electric-blue tones. Much vivid blue zircon in the jewellery trade owes its colour to heat treatment.
Fine colourless zircon can be exceptionally bright and dispersive. It has historically been used as a diamond substitute, but it is a distinct natural gemstone.
Yellow and golden zircon ranges from pale straw and champagne to saturated gold, with natural brilliance adding warmth and liveliness.
Orange, reddish-orange and reddish-brown zircon can display rich autumnal colour, particularly attractive in warm-toned precious metals.
Natural green zircon exists from yellowish and olive tones to deeper greens. Some green material has altered crystal structure and deserves appropriate assessment.
Understanding Treatment
Zircon is a natural mineral, but heat treatment is commonly used to modify colour in some material. Blue and colourless zircon are particularly associated with heating in the trade.
“Natural zircon” describes geological origin. It is not a laboratory-created diamond simulant.
Heating can alter brownish zircon to blue, colourless or other colours and is accepted when properly disclosed.
Colour, treatment and condition should be considered together when evaluating zircon.
A Naturally Brilliant Gem
Zircon can separate light into colourful spectral flashes, giving well-cut stones distinctive fire.
Transparent zircon can return an exceptional amount of lively light when well cut.
Zircon is doubly refractive, so rear facet edges may appear doubled when viewed through many stones.
Zircon is a genuine natural mineral, and ancient zircon crystals are important records of the early Earth.
Marcus Tempus Gemstone Selection
At Marcus Tempus, we look for zircon with attractive colour, brilliance and personality. For warm whisky stones, we particularly enjoy the balance between cognac depth and golden fire. We also consider cut, transparency, condition, treatment and light return.
Marcus Tempus Bespoke
Zircon offers far more than familiar electric blue. Depending on availability, we can source around a preferred whisky, cognac, blue, golden or other colour family, together with shape, dimensions and precious metal.
Natural zircon varies from stone to stone. Availability depends on colour, treatment, clarity, cut, condition, dimensions and quality.
Enquire About Bespoke Options →Natural Zircon Questions
Yes. Zircon is a naturally occurring zirconium silicate mineral with its own distinct chemical, physical and optical properties.
No. Natural zircon is zirconium silicate, while cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide and is generally laboratory-created.
The zircon itself is natural, but much vivid blue zircon sold in jewellery has been heat treated to produce or modify its blue colour.
Whisky zircon is a descriptive trade term for warm brown zircon with amber, honey, cinnamon or cognac-like colour. It is not a separate mineral species.
Zircon combines strong brilliance with relatively high dispersion, producing bright light return and colourful spectral flashes.
Zircon can be worn regularly with care, but exposed facet edges are more susceptible to abrasion and chipping than sapphire or diamond.
