Zircon comes in many beautiful colors, and popular blue zircon is a modern December birthstone. However, zircon is often confused with cubic zirconia because of its name. In this course, you'll learn all about zircons, from how they form and how to distinguish them from other gems to how they help scientists study the early history of the Earth. You'll also learn what to look for when you're buying zircons.
Zircon comes in many beautiful colors, and popular blue zircon is a modern December birthstone. However, zircon is often confused with cubic zirconia because of its name. In this course, you'll learn all about zircons, from how they form and how to distinguish them from other gems to how they help scientists study the early history of the Earth. You'll also learn what to look for when you're buying zircons.
A flexible and affordable mini course from one of the top online gemology schools.
The course is self-study. This means that all of the material is on our website, and the burden is on the student to follow the Syllabus to learn the material. The benefit of this approach is that each student can learn at his or her own pace, and on his or her own schedule. Students can take as long as they want to complete the quiz to earn the Zircon Badge.
For beginners we recommend following our structured Syllabus, however you may study the material in any order that suits you.
In order to earn the Zircon Badge you must pass the quiz at the end of the course with a score of 87% or better. You may retake the exam an unlimited number of times until you pass.
All examinations are administered via online test-taking software accessed via your password-protected account on the IGS website.
Sure! We have some sample gemology questions from the actual IGS Professional Gemologist certification exam. This should give you a sense of the types of questions that we ask in our course exams and quizzes.
The time it takes you to read all of the material and take the quiz depends on your level of interest, motivation, and time commitment. It can be done in a day, a week, or a month (or longer depending on your schedule).
From Actinolite to Zoisite, dig into every facet of the fascinating world of gems with IGS gemology courses.
Become a member and get access to this course and all other mini-courses for free.
Enroll in the IGS Zircon Mini course and gain specialized knowledge about this classic gemstone. Learn about zircon properties and connoisseurship through in-depth articles and stunning visuals. This completely online mini-course is an affordable way to pursue your hobby or build a career in gemology.
The GIA is an excellent organization. Their Graduate Gemologist degree is the most respected credential a person can hold in this industry. If you have the time and money, and are serious about a career in the gem industry, the GG course of study offered by the GIA should be your first choice. The IGS courses were created for everyone else. The founder of IGS and original author of the Professional Gemologist program, Donald Clark, has strong connections with the lapidary community. For years, he listened to amateurs giving inaccurate advice to others. For example, he heard things like: “If your blue stone has an RI of 1.625, then it is topaz, not aquamarine.” Those two properties, color and RI, also belong to tourmaline and a few rare minerals. Blue topaz and blue tourmaline have vastly different values. Not knowing the difference can be costly, in terms of both money and reputation. Donald Clark believed that the problem stemmed not from the well-meaning lapidary sharing his incomplete knowledge, but rather that there wasn’t anywhere to learn gem identification, short of taking (what was back then) a $3,000 course. For them, he created IGS. It is dedicated to all the gem cutters, collectors, jewelers, and others wanting to know more about gems but who do not have the resources to attend GIA.
We believe that joining IGS will save you time, money and heartache on your gemstone education and purchases. Our community of fellow enthusiasts and professionals wholeheartedly agree, which is why we are able to confidently extend a full 30-day money back guarantee on your membership. We’ll also refund your purchase of the Professional Gemologist course or Diamond Specialist course within 7 days of purchase. Mini-courses are non-refundable.
