Scintillating Vintage Zircon Belcher Ring

Underrated and misunderstood, poor beautiful zircon the natural and dazzling gem is so often lumped in with the wholly unrelated synthetic simulant cubic zirconia. While both are available in many colours (and colourless), both may have you reaching for the sunglasses, and both have been historically used to imitate diamond, that's where the similarities end. Zircon is among the oldest natural gemstones - stones mined in Australia are over 4 billion years old! Typically found in warm hues ranging from champagne to whiskey, earthy reds and greens, and popularly irradiated (naturally or through human intervention) to vivid blues, the stone can also be heat treated for a crisp, colourless variety. The signature visual effect that helps distinguish this stone - beyond its remarkably intense sparkle - is the strong doubling effect seen looking through the stone to its back facets, caused by a high birefringence. 

This midcentury ring takes aesthetic inspiration from the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, in a classic belcher style that feels powerful and elegant.

Very good vintage condition with wear in line with age and use, including some wear to facet junctions on zircon and evidence of past resizing.

Details:
• 9k yellow gold, stamped and tested
• 10 3/8 can be resized within two sizes
• One round brilliant cut colourless zircon, approximately 4.12ct (9.2mm diameter)
• Face of ring measures 10.3mm wide, 10.7mm across, with a rise of 6mm; back of band measures 3mm wide and 1mm thick
• 5.8g