BUYERS GUIDE BOOK

Author NOOR MOHAMED Gemologists (GIA)

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Origin of Blue Zircon How the mining location created How the mining is done Heating process Finishing process Colors of Blue Zircons Why Blue Zircon Very Attractive Naturally? Basic Facts Who discover the gemstone World Market Popularity Pricing Believes My involvement in the market of blue zircon

Noor Mohamed Gemologist (GIA) [email protected]

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ORIGIN OF BLUE COLOR ZIRCON The origin of blue color zircon is only in Ratanagiri province, Cambodia. Zircon that found in other part of the world doesn’t have same chemical composition that produce blue hue color.

Cambodia

Ratanagiri Province

Cambodia

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HOW THE MINING LOCATION CREATED

The mining locations were created via alkaline volcanic activity 700,000 years ago.

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HOW THE MINING IS DONE

Mine owner will allow local people to conduct the mining activity. Each spot will be dug by each family

Depth of mining is approximately 10 meter down. To go deeper than that, it would be dangerous.

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End of the day, the diggers will have to sell their findings to the mine owner. Reasonable ransom of cash will be given.

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HEATING PROCESS

They will place the stone inside this regular drum (inside a container). The secret of the temperature level and the timing, they kept to themselves. Heat treatment is a normal practice gem trade. 90% of sapphires are heat enhanced.

Coal is material used for heating/ burning the drum.

Brown materials are the original color Blue color are the after heating

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FINISHING PROCESS

Pre forming process 7

Process of cutting and polishing Diamond powder been used to give highest luster finishing

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COLORS OF ZIRCON’S SILKY BLUE ~ LITE BLUE COLOR

LAGOON BLUE ~ LITE GREENISH

BLUE COLOR

VINTAGE BLUE ~ DARKER GREENISH BLUE

PARAIBA BLUE ~ BRIGHT, SUPERB INTENSE BLUE

ROYAL BLUE ~ DARKER INTENSE BLUE (RAREST)

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WHY BLUE ZIRCON IS VERY ATTRACTIVE NATURALLY? Blue Zircon has a very high reflective index (close to 1.98), status next to Diamond (in durable gems). It means the light which travel inside the stone are reflected back out at the very high speed.

Reflective Index Chart

Zircon has very high dispersion, high luster. High refractive indices, giving it lots of brilliancy

Double Reflection Further more, zircon is the stone with double Reflective properties. One source of light which comes in, will go out twice. You can see twice as many facets and twice as much fire.

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DEEP BLUE COLOR ZIRCON IS RARE.

COLLECTOR’S PIECES THE SIZES ABOVE 30 CTS ARE RARE.

ANYTHING ABOVE 40CTS ARE MOST RARE. ON AVERAGE, ONLY 5 PIECES WERE DISCOVERED IN A YEAR. ONLY CERTAIN EXCLUSION CLIENT HAVE PREVILAGE TO OWN THIS. THE PIECE ON THE LEFT, IS 40CT PLUS. ONE OF THE KIND PIECE.

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BASIC FACTS Refractive Index

1.92 - 2.01

Chemical Composition Hardness

Zircon is the oldest minerals on Earth, 4.404 billion years old.

Density Crystal Structure Luster

ZrSiO4 7.5 Mohs scale

4.6-4.7 specific gravity Tetragonal Vitreous to adamantine

ORIGIN OF NAME The name derives from the Persian zargun (‫)زرگ ون‬, meaning golden-colored.This word is corrupted into "jargoon", a term applied to light-colored zircons. The English word "zircon" is derived from "Zirkon," which is the German adaptation of this word.

FORMATION Zircon forms in economic concentrations within heavy mineral sands ore deposits, within certain pegmatites, and within some rare alkaline volcanic rocks.

RADIOMETRIC DATING Zircon has played an important role during the evolution of radiometric dating. Zircons contain trace amounts of uranium and thorium (from 10 ppm up to 1 wt %) and can be dated using several modern analytical techniques. Because zircons can survive geologic processes like erosion, transport, even high-grade metamorphism, they contain a rich and varied record of geological processes. Zircons from Jack Hills in the Narryer Gneiss Terrane, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, have yielded U-Pb ages up to 4.404 billion years, interpreted to be the age of crystallization, making them the oldest minerals so far dated on Earth. In addition, the oxygen isotopic compositions of some of these zircons have been interpreted to indicate that more than 4.4 billion years ago there was already water on the surface of the Earth. Source www.wikipedia.org

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WHO DISCOVER THESE GEMSTONE AND RATANAGIRI The meaning of ratanagiri is a mountain of jewels. The place was named by Shan tribe. The previous name was MENG KHA, which mean city native. To put in right word, city of native. WHAT HAPPEN, IN ORDER THE NAME WAS TO BE CHANGED As the name appear native city, people who lived here are also very native. The leader of this native was very cruel. And they use to practice cannibalism. Many people were living in fear. Around year 1880, the tribe of Shan who was passing by this land, fought this native leader. The Shan leader won the fight and became a hero of this land. And the local people were very happy and request the Shan leader the settle down here. The Shan community is very talented with knowledge related with mineral. They made a discovery that minerals which found in this location is valuable. And they found it’s available in abundance. So the leader of Shan has made a declaration to name this location RATANAGIRI. ABOUT THE SHAN TRIBE There is long story of Shan tribe (also known as Tai Yai in northern Thailand). I don’t want to bore you with unrelated history. The important related information is, these Shan tribe use to settle down in northern part of Burma / Myanmar. Since 16 century. In year1860’s, the Shan tribe had to migrate from Burma due local political problem.

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 Important point to be notice is the northern part Burma is rich with the rich natural minerals. Even Mogok, land of ruby is located there.  They were educated by Indian Kingdom Dynasty about the value of the rich valuable minerals. Since India the neighboring country. Many trade were conducted during this period.  So the Shan tribe became expert with minerals.

THE MIGRATION MAP

Meisai

KANCHANABURI

Pangkaja/Trat

Ratanagiri

Pailin

DISCOVERY ALONG THE MIGRATION Kanchanaburi the mining location for blue and yellow sapphire.

Pankaja / Trat is the origin for Sapphire, Ruby and Black Star Sapphire. Pailin Blue Sapphire and ruby was mined here Soutern Combodia Brown and yellow color Zircon. Topaz and Quartz also found. They did educate the local people about the availability of rich mineral.

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Chanthaburi- the World Class international Gemstone market is located next to Trat.

STORY OF PAILIN

Legend says that precious stones were first discovered here by Burmese traders (Shan Tribe) observing river otters playing with the rough gems. The word Pailin, in fact, means otters (pai) playing (lin). Was a famous source for ruby and sapphire, now its depleted

CUT Zircon is cut in the brilliant style to take advantage of its luster and fire. A modification of the brilliant cut, known as the “zircon cut,” uses eight extra facets around the gem’s lower portion, called the pavilion. Zircon can also be found in step cuts, which have rows of parallel facets, and mixed cuts, which are a combination of brilliant and step-cut facets.

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WORLD MARKET From my experience, people who buy this stone are the one who have good knowledge about gemstone and the one who appreciate beauty. The country that have good demand for this stones are

United State of America

Thailand

German

Singapore

Japan

South Korea

Great Britain

Hong Kong

Taiwan

Other European countries

Categories of buyers are      

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Gemstone dealers, Famous Designers, Private Collectors, Very fine jewelry makers, Volume jewelry manufacturers, TV network. Gem Companies.

POPULARITY Now days, blue zircon catches the front page of many magazines. For example, the picture on the right is the front page of the 1st day JCK Show Daily Magazine 2012. And also winning many High End Jewelry Design Awards. Blue Zircon is a favorite stone for many custom made designers.

Many high end designers are making one of the kind pieces jewelry

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MANY HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES ARE LOVING IT

PRICING What I am giving below are RETAIL PRICES….. For average good quality Blue Zircon gemstone in the year 2015. Prices may change periodically as demand and supply changes. 1 – 4 carats 4 – 6 cts 6 – 8 cts 8 – 10 cts 10 -15 cts 15 – 20 cts 20 – 30 cts 30 cts and up

$65 - $120 USD / per carat $120 - $180 $180 - $240 $240 - $300 $300 - $450 $450 -$600 $600 - $900 $900 per carat and up

For exceptional rare quality stone, these prices list doesn’t count. The stone on the right is 36ct. I saw this piece in the year 2012, I still haven’t found another piece like this until now.

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BELIEVES In the Eleventh century, zircon was regarded as the talisman for travelers, protecting them from injury, disease and insomnia, as well as guarantying a warm reception wherever their travels would take them. During the Middle Ages, zircon was believed to induce better sleep, shun away evil spirits, and promote wealth, honor and wisdom. The blue variety of zircon was a special favorite during the Victorian times, an era when fine gems were frequently used to be adorned in English estate jewelry dating from the 1880s.

ZIRCON IN ASTROLOGY

For its astrological value, zircon is worn to protect the mind and body from harmful energy emitted by celestial bodies in our solar system. It is also believed to possess certain characteristics which act in a positive manner to attract the vibes of wisdom, wealth, self-confidence and selfesteem. Zircon is also associated with feelings of love and happiness and is believed to being joy and satisfaction to the wearer.

Zircon is also assumed to cure diseases like epilepsy, fever and insanity.

Birth Stone- Blue Zircon is the stone for December

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MY INVOLMENT IN THE MARKET OF BLUE ZIRCON My name is Noor Mohamed GG. I’m a 3rd generation gem dealer from the family who deals with fine quality gemstone. I came into business in the year 2005. In the beginning I use to sell many variety of fine quality gemstones. In end of year 2009, I stopped and looked back. I found that blue zircon is my lucky stone. Which mean it’s my fast seller. From year 2010 I started to pay attention to his stone and I was buying it in large quantity. Year 2011, by noticing the quantity of my buying. The word spread to the source. The big guys (manufacturers) from Ratanagiri invited to their location. After this visit, a special relationship has created. Since I’m the volume buyer, every time a new fresh production of blue zircon been manufactured. I have the privilege to view the lot first. And 90% of the times I bought those lot. If I didn’t buy it, its means that there is certain quality issue about the lot. I am not available for business all year long, my yearly schedules are: January and February (Tucson Gems Show) March Hong Kong Gems Show May and June (Las Vegas Show) September Hong Kong Gems show Mid-September till end of October (Los Angeles and New York, USA) ***Every time before and after USA Gems Show, I will be in Los Angeles*** Rest of the time, I go hunt for new exotic gemstones and spend quality time with family. Please contact me for appointments. Thank you. I HOPE THAT ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE GIVEN WILL GIVE A BETTER PICTURE ABOUT BLUE ZIRCON. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION. Due to my limited availability, some gem dealers who don’t have access to me are spreading rumors about diffused blue zircon. As I was discussing with my source, blue zircon cannot be diffused. In order to be diffused, it has to be heated to certain high temperature. And blue zircon could not take that temperature, it would break. Only Sapphire can take that temperature. I also heard about this diffused in the market, when I asked them " do you have one or seen one, they said no". There is no proof backed by lab reports about this rumors.

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