1.06 Ct. Green Zircon from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This specimen is a transparent green zircon weighing 1.06 carat, presented in a classic cushion outline, with precise proportions measuring 6.39 by 5.80 by 3.30 millimeters. The cutting style is faceted, executed as a mixed brilliant cut that combines a faceted crown with a modified pavilion geometry, engineered to optimize both brilliance and dispersion. The pavilion depth yields an overall depth of approximately 54 percent relative to the average diameter, a proportion that favors balanced light return without excessive windowing or deep darking. Clarity is graded as eye clean at standard viewing distance, which means the pavilion and crown remain visually free of inclusions that could disrupt internal light paths, and the polish is graded excellent, giving the facet junctions crisp edges and mirrorlike facet planes. This piece is untreated, no enhancement, and originates from Ceylon, Sri Lanka, a source known for producing zircons with stable coloration and clean crystal habit.

The mixed brilliant faceting scheme employed on this cushion shape is deliberate, the crown facets are proportioned to produce layered scintillation, while the pavilion facets are angled to produce concentrated caustic patterns and maximize refractive return. The table is moderately sized, which stabilizes the apparent color intensity, letting medium saturation present without becoming opaque, and the series of step to brilliant transitions around the girdle creates a dynamic interplay between larger flashes and fine scintillation. Eye clean clarity in a zircon is particularly valuable because the gem has a relatively high refractive index and notable dispersion, so any internal feature would be readily emphasized, however this stone’s internal field remains clean which permits pure optical performance. The excellent polish further minimizes light loss at the facet intersections, permitting tight, well defined facet reflections that contribute to crisp scintillation and controlled brilliance rather than diffuse glow.

Under varied lighting environments this green zircon demonstrates predictable and desirable optical behavior, owing to its medium color intensity and mixed cutting. In full daylight, especially indirect northern daylight, the stone exhibits its truest hue, a balanced green with cool undertones appearing through the table and pavilion reflections, the mixed facets creating a stable, lively presence with distinct flashes of lighter green where crown facets intercept direct sky light. In direct sunlight the dispersion and high refractive response generate transient flashes of spectral fire around white highlights, these flashes being most visible during movement as the pavilion angles concentrate light into sharp, bright caustics. Under warm incandescent light the color shifts subtly toward a warmer green, with greater apparent depth and increased contrast between facet reflections, producing a more saturated visual weight. Under modern LED lighting the response depends on the LED spectrum, but in most full spectrum LED sources the gem keeps a lively, balanced green, with crisp scintillation and controlled flash patterns. Under cool fluorescent light there can be a slight flattening of color intensity, the stone relying on facet contrast to convey brilliance, while in candlelight the gem presents a gentle, deeper green with subdued scintillation and a soft, attractive inner glow. In jewelry settings this sapphire alternative performs well in prong mounting that allows light entry from the pavilion, and shows particularly well when paired with white metal surrounds that enhance return contrast, or with a halo of small white melee to amplify perceived brilliance. The Natural Gemstone Company presents this unenhanced Ceylon green zircon as an example of meticulous lapidary work combined with intrinsic optical advantages, suitable for collectors and designers who prioritize precise cutting parameters, reliable color behavior under practical lighting, and uncompromised natural origin.