Zircon or cubic zirconia? The names are so close that almost everyone mixes them up. Yet they are not the same stone at all: zircon is a natural gemstone mined from the earth, while cubic zirconia (zirconium oxide) is a lab-created stone designed to sparkle like a diamond. Here is how to tell them apart, and why our jewelry shines with cubic zirconia.
This guide goes hand in hand with our article on stainless steel jewelry, the metal every one of these stones is set in.
Contents
- What is the difference between zircon and cubic zirconia?
- What is zircon?
- What exactly is cubic zirconia?
- Zircon vs cubic zirconia: comparison table
- How can you tell zircon from cubic zirconia?
- Why is our jewelry set with cubic zirconia?
- Birthstones: why cubic zirconia?
- Which cubic zirconia jewelry should you choose?
- Does cubic zirconia tarnish? Our care tips
- FAQ about zircon and cubic zirconia
What is the difference between zircon and cubic zirconia?
The short answer: zircon is a natural stone, cubic zirconia is a lab-created stone. Zircon forms in rock over millions of years. Cubic zirconia has been made by people since the 1970s.
Their chemistry is different too. Zircon is zirconium silicate (ZrSiO₄). Cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂). They share one element, zirconium, which is where the confusion comes from. And to make things trickier, zirconium on its own is a metal, not a stone.
Our cubic zirconia jewelry
 Malte set of 3 rings to stack or to share |  Astra necklace your birthstones together |  Kim tennis bracelet a line of sparkle on the wrist |  Crown Y necklace for a plunging neckline |
Many sellers write "zircon" when they actually mean cubic zirconia. It matters, because the word suggests a natural gemstone. At L'Or Didon, we prefer to call every material by its real name.
What is zircon?
Zircon is a natural mineral found in many types of rock around the world. It is also incredibly old: in Western Australia, zircon grains have been dated to about 4.4 billion years, making them some of the oldest witnesses of Earth's history, as Wikipedia explains.
Its name may come from the Persian zargun, meaning "golden". In nature it comes in warm shades: yellow, gold, red and brown, and sometimes green or black. Blue zircon, much loved in fine jewellery, is usually obtained by heating the stone.
Colourless zircon has brilliance and fire close to a diamond's. For centuries the two were confused, says the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which also lists zircon as a December birthstone.
Zircon rates 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. That is decent, but its edges can wear or chip over time, and some zircons can change colour under strong light. It is a lovely collector's stone, rarer and more expensive, usually kept for solid gold fine jewelry.
What exactly is cubic zirconia?
Cubic zirconia is a lab-created stone. Zirconium oxide powder is melted at a very high temperature, then left to crystallise slowly. The method was perfected in 1973 by researchers at the Lebedev Institute in Moscow, and large-scale production for jewelry began in the late 1970s.
The result is a very pure stone, free of the tiny inclusions found in natural gems. It is harder than zircon (8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale) and throws even more rainbow flashes than a diamond, as detailed on the cubic zirconia page of Wikipedia. That is why it is used all over the world as a diamond look-alike.
Another plus: adding tiny amounts of other elements during production creates every colour imaginable. Pink, green, purple, blue, red… Each shade is perfectly consistent from one stone to the next, which is exactly what birthstones need.
So cubic zirconia is not a "fake" zircon or a worthless stone. It is a material in its own right, chosen for its sparkle, durability and consistency.
Zircon vs cubic zirconia: comparison table
| Criteria | Zircon | Cubic zirconia |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Natural stone, formed in rock | Lab-created stone |
| Composition | Zirconium silicate (ZrSiO₄) | Zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 6.5 to 7.5 | 8 to 8.5 |
| Colours | Gold, brown, red, green; blue usually heated | Colourless and every colour, very consistent |
| Sparkle | Close to diamond | Very bright, strong rainbow fire |
| Inclusions | Common, every stone is unique | Almost none, very pure |
| Price | Higher, especially in large sizes | Affordable |
| At L'Or Didon | Not offered | On our rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and birthstones |
How can you tell zircon from cubic zirconia?
With the naked eye it is hard, even for jewelry lovers. A few clues can still help.
- The product page. Always check first. A trustworthy seller says "cubic zirconia" or "zirconium oxide". If an affordable piece only says "zircon", it is almost always cubic zirconia.
- The price. A real zircon of a good size, set in gold, costs far more than a high-end fashion piece.
- The flashes. Cubic zirconia throws vivid rainbow sparkles. Zircon has a slightly whiter, silvery brilliance.
- Clarity. Under a loupe, zircon often shows small inclusions. Cubic zirconia is almost always flawless.
- Weight. Cubic zirconia is denser, so at the same size it feels a little heavier. Only a gemologist can measure it precisely.
When in doubt, just ask. Honest jewelry has nothing to hide about its stones.
Why is our jewelry set with cubic zirconia?
We love jewelry that goes everywhere with you, from the office to dinner. Cubic zirconia ticks every box: it sparkles like a precious stone, stands up to daily life and keeps its shine. It pairs perfectly with our surgical stainless steel, with an 18k gold finish or in silver-tone.
It also keeps our prices gentle: around thirty euros, with many pieces at €38. So you can treat yourself to jewelry that truly shines, without waiting for a big occasion.
On necklaces, it lights up fine chains as well as bolder pieces.
 Lara necklace drop or square, engraved on the back |  Amore necklace three squares, pink or white |  Sun necklace a little sun that lights you up |  Elle necklace a soft little flower |
 Myra three-stone necklace fine and luminous |  Myra necklace dainty mini stones |  Irrésistible Y necklace double chain, instant wow |
It is also beautiful with natural freshwater pearls. Their softness and the sparkle of the stone answer each other, for jewelry that is both tender and luminous.
 Lara long necklace natural pearls and sparkle |  Natural pearl heart necklace a sparkling pink heart |  Natural pearl and green necklace pearls and green stones |  Perla necklace one natural pearl, vintage style |
Birthstones: why cubic zirconia?
Each month of the year has its own stone colour: garnet red for January, amethyst purple for February, and so on. For our birthstone jewelry we use coloured cubic zirconia. They are neither zircons nor natural gemstones, and we want to be clear about that.
Why this choice? Natural stones vary a lot from piece to piece. With cubic zirconia, the colour of your month is always the same, crisp and bright. If you give the same birthstone necklace to a mother and her daughter, the stones will match.
 Birthstone pendant one colour per month |  Birthstone charm clips onto any chain |  Birthstone bangle one to three stones and an initial |  Lana children's necklace engraved, with her birthstone |
The Astra necklace, the bangle and the Lana necklace are personalised and handmade in Paris. To find each month's colour, read our guide birthstones by month, then discover all our birthstone jewelry.
Which cubic zirconia jewelry should you choose?
It all depends on your style and how you like to wear your jewelry. Here are our ideas, piece by piece.
Cubic zirconia rings
Rings show off cubic zirconia best, because your hands move all the time and catch the light. For everyday elegance, choose a fine band or an eternity ring. For more character, stack two or three rings: the Malte set is made for that.
 Ava double ring one smooth band, one set band |  Eternity band gold-tone or silver-tone |  Valentine band delicately set |  Eternity band ring set all the way round |
 Nina ring fine and adjustable |  Marine ring adjustable, for every day |  José ring two stones face to face |  Élyra ring crossed and contemporary |
Many of our rings are adjustable, which makes them an easy gift. For the others, our guide to finding your ring size will help.
 Calista ring textured relief |  Clémence ring a luminous clover |  Flora ring a tiny flower |  Paula ring intertwined, gold-tone or silver-tone |
 Open set ring gold-tone or silver-tone |  Dangling star ring a star that moves with you |  Sun ring radiant |  V ring open and graphic |
Fancy some colour? The multicolour hearts and the white and emerald green ring add a cheerful touch without losing any sparkle.
 Multicolour hearts ring five coloured hearts |  White and emerald green ring a touch of colour |  Stars two-star ring two shining stars |  Butterfly ring two poetic butterflies |
 Stars ring a shower of stars |  Double band ring two bands as one |  Tennis ring pavé-set and luminous |  Flower ring a white flower |
 Two-tone double ring gold-tone meets silver-tone |  Open gold-tone ring simple and luminous |
See every style in our rings collection.
Earrings and ear cuffs
A single set stud is enough to light up your face. For an evening or a wedding, try drop earrings, with or without a natural freshwater pearl. Our earrings are made of surgical stainless steel, a good option for sensitive ears: see our hypoallergenic earrings.
 Crown stud sold individually |  Élodie studs three stones in a row |  Jade earrings a hypoallergenic heart |  Brigitte earrings pearl and stone, bridal favourite |
 Lucia earrings a flower and a heart |  Perla earrings dangling natural pearl |  Théa hoops dangling chains |  Philippine earrings links and a set ring |
 Amore hoops a sparkling heart |  Pavé Hoop earrings half pavé-set |  Antoinette earrings natural pearl, 3 colours |  Edith mini hoops removable natural pearl |
 Étincelles earrings for evenings out |  Marie cross earrings set or pearl version |
No pierced ears, or want the piercing look without the hole? An ear cuff slides onto the cartilage. Our ear cuffs are sold individually. Everything is explained in our article ear cuff no piercing: how to choose and wear it, and in our ear cuffs collection.
 Marquise ear cuff marquise-cut stones |  Embellished ear cuff round stones |  Gold-tone ear cuff no piercing needed |  Cléa ear cuff double row |
Bracelets and hand chains
The tennis bracelet is the great classic: a row of stones that sparkles with every move. Wear it alone or with a watch. For something more unusual, a hand chain links wrist to finger and gets noticed right away.
 Tennis bracelet a single row of stones |  Natural pearl and green bracelet pearls and green stones |  Hearts hand chain beaded and romantic |  Agnès hand chain fine, with a ring |
 Green stone hand chain gold-tone or silver-tone |  Embellished hand chain chic, gold-tone or silver-tone |  Three-stone hand chain gold-tone or silver-tone |
Discover all our hand chains, and our necklace and bracelet length guide to find the right size.
Does cubic zirconia tarnish? Our care tips
No, cubic zirconia does not tarnish or oxidise. It can lose a little sparkle when traces of lotion, perfume or soap build up underneath. The good news: it is very easy to clean.
- Clean your jewelry in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, then brush gently with a soft toothbrush.
- Dry it with a soft cloth, without rubbing hard on the gold finish.
- Apply perfume and lotion first, and let them dry before putting on your jewelry.
- Store each piece separately in a pouch, so the stones do not scratch your other jewelry.
- Avoid knocks: even a hard stone can come loose after a sharp blow.
Our jewelry comes with a 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects. If a stone comes loose because of a defect, we are here for you.
FAQ about zircon and cubic zirconia
Is zircon a precious stone?
Not in the strict sense. In France, only diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald are classed as precious stones. Zircon is a natural gemstone, often called a fine stone.
Is cubic zirconia a fake diamond?
It is often used as a diamond look-alike because it sparkles in the same way. But it is a lab-created stone in its own right, with its own composition.
Are zirconium and cubic zirconia the same thing?
No. Zirconium is a metal. Cubic zirconia is the stone made from this element. Zircon is a natural mineral.
Can I shower with cubic zirconia jewelry?
The stone does not mind water, and neither does stainless steel, which makes it waterproof jewelry for everyday life. To keep its sparkle, take it off at the pool, at the beach and when using household products.
Are your birthstones zircons?
No. They are coloured cubic zirconia, which guarantees a consistent, bright colour for every month.
Want to see these stones sparkle in real life? Come and try them on at our boutique in the Marais, 3 rue Madame de Sévigné, 75004 Paris (Saint-Paul metro), open every day from 11 am to 8 pm. Free shipping and gift box from €89, and free in-store pickup.
Article updated on October 28, 2026
