Zircon Pricing Guide For Buyers and Sellers

Here is the Zircon pricing guide for buyers and sellers. Feel free to use this as a point of reference when valuing Iolite.

As prices for Zircon change, I’ll update this page with the new prices I see at the local gem and mineral shows plus I’ll be going to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show to ensure the pricing is as accurate as possible.

There are two types of Zircon you’ll be purchasing if you choose to. The first type will be facet rough and your best source will be Southeast Asia or African varieties. If you attend a gem show then you should be able to source this material. In general, most of this material is sold by the gram.

The second type will be faceted gemstones and this is where the value lies in Zircon. Large stones with a high clarity score will bring a premium to smaller stones.

 

 

 

How to determine Price and Cost

When determining the value of the gemstone you will be using GIA guidelines which means color, clarity, carat weight, and cut.  You’ll want to look at each one of these individually and then circle back when finished to evaluate the stone as a whole.

Color is going to be the most important factor when determining the value of gemstones.  Clarity and carat weight are tied for the second most important factor.

Before you go any further you need to ensure you have identified Zircon correctly.

 

 

 

Color – The more intense the color the more valuable the stone is.  When dealing with warm colors, think of red and orange, you’ll want to determine if there are brown undertones.  If you can’t see brown undertones then the color should be very vibrant.  The more vibrant and saturated the color the more expensive the gemstone.  If the gemstone has a unique “neon-like glow” then it will demand the highest price per carat.

Zircon comes in quite a few different colors but the blue or blue-green is the most popular. However, I think the honey colored stones as well as the reddish pink colored ones face up very nicely.

 

Clarity – Buyers and collectors prefer stones with no internal inclusions visible to the eye. To determine the clarity ranking you’ll need at a minimum a 10x loop and a higher-powered microscope to confirm internally flawless and flawless designations.

If you can visibly see the inclusion while holding the gemstone then the highest designation would be SI1 and if the inclusion detracts from the overall beauty of the stone then the clarity designation would be I1 – I3.

Clarity designations – FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3

 

 

Carat – Zircon can be found in sizes ranging from below 1 carat to above 10 carat or more.  Generally speaking, Zircon can be sourced in most carat weights. The larger crystals will not bring more money per carat unless they are deemed super rare.

 

Cut – It is sad to say but cut has the least impact on value and cost unless it affects the stone in an extreme way.  For example, when you look at the stone you would be able to see through it which means light is not being reflected back to the eye.  This is called a window in the stone and it would have to be quite large to impact the price.  The other extreme would occur when you look at a stone and see a rough circle or oval shape inside the stone.  This occurs when the stone is very shallow and it’s reflecting the rough girdle inside the stone.  Note: the girdle is the edge/side of the stone where the pavilion and crown meet.

 

 

 

Zircon Prices

These are fairly stable and dependent upon the quality of the stone. Poorly cut stones with grey inclusions will always bring less money. The best stone will have a bright blue or blue-green color and it won’t look blurry. Keep in mind Zircon is double refractive.

 

 

Faceted Blue Zircon price per carat $18.00 – $55.00

• High-quality material only
• Single stones or matched pairs
• Blue to blueish-green
• 1 to 10 carats in size

 

 

Faceted Orange-Brown Zircon price per carat $25.00 – $95.00

• High-quality material only
• Single stones or matched pairs
• Brown-orange or Orange-brown color
• 1 to 10 carats in size

 

 

Zircon Facet Rough price per gram $50.00 – $125.00

• Priced in grams and dependent on size
• Sold by the piece
• VS1 clarity or better will bring higher prices.

 

How Valuable is Zircon?

Zircon is the December birthstone and is well known but its popularity has grown in the last couple of years due to a new supply coming out of Southeast Asia. These stones have a rich pastel blue-green and cut very nice stones. If I were looking to add Zircon to my collection then I would focus on the faceted material with a blue-green or orange-brown color and high clarity but there is no reason to overpay.

 

The cost of Zircon will be steady over time

Prices for high-quality faceted material will hold their value but I don’t see prices increasing anytime soon.

If you’re not sure how to value a gemstone then you should consider a gemstone appraisal. Individuals acquiring gemstones through inheritance, estate sales, and auctions typically have the gemstone appraised to determine the value and to ensure the gem is what they think it is.