Zircon
The first thing to know about zircon is what it isn’t. That is, zircon IS NOT cubic zirconia. Unlike cubic zirconia, zircon is not a synthetically made stone.
Zircon is in fact a natural gemstone that has suffered from some “bad marketing,” as a result of the similarity of its name to cubic zirconia as well as some of its similar properties to diamonds. But who doesn’t love an underdog? At Malki, we think it’s high time zircon got due credit and respect!
Zircons are old, more so than diamonds and even life itself given that a zircon found in Australia was determined to be over 4.3 billion years old! We’re proud to say that the the zircons we use in Malki Studio are entirely sourced locally, here in Australia, by independent small scale miners, most of who also facet their own stones. That means that, at Malki, zircon is a thoroughly ethical choice.
We think that zircons are stunningly beautiful, ranging in colour from intense and pastel yellows, browns, oranges, and reds, to greens, blues, and white (clear) stones.
Zircon’s high rate of light dispersion and refraction means that, when looking at this gemstone, a lot of the light is reflected back into the eye as well as broken into its constituent wavelengths, resulting in dazzlingly bright rainbow coloured flashes.
Instead of thinking of zircons as a substitute for diamonds, Malki Studio invites our customers to think of zircon as a beautiful and unique gemstone in its own right, and one that is hugely under-appreciated in the mass market.
We consider that the fact that zircons haven’t been swallowed into mass market jewellery is evidence that this is a distinguished choice of gemstone that is perfect for distinguished jewellery worn by distinguished individuals.
Pendant and chain: responsibly sourced and repurposed sterling silver, responsibly sourced fine silver, responsibly sourced 9 karat gold, ethically sourced natural 1.45 carat zircon from Rubyvale, Queensland, Israeli 50 shekel coin from 1984, sterling silver chain.
The bronze 50 shekel coin that this pendant centers on is a replica of a Judean coin from the Great Jewish Revolt against the Roman Empire between the years 66 and 70 in the Common Era. The coin depicts a Lulav and Etrog, which is set of plants that has symbolised the Jewish holiday of Sukkot for millennia. Sukkot is a holiday that celebrates God’s protection of the Jewish people throughout our history, the Jewish connection to nature and agriculture in our native land, and our unity as a people.
Adorning this pendant is a radiant yellow natural zircon which was ethically sourced from Rubyvale in Queensland. The gem references the light of the sun and the outdoors, as Sukkot is a holiday in which Jewish people spend seven days in makeshift outdoor shelters supported by palm leaves and colourful decorations.
Chain length: 45cm.
Pendant dimensions: 6.5cm x 3.3cm x 1.5cm.
Pendant weight: 21.9 grams.