Antique jewelry glossary

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Hyacinth

A variety of zircon or spinel that is reddish-orange colour, differing from Jacinth which is more reddish-brown. The term has been used in the past in many confusing senses, sometimes referring to a blue stone such a sapphire, and sometimes to reddish-brown grossular. It is still used as a prefix to the names of several stones that are reddish-orange in colour, e.g. 'hyacinth quartz', a misnomer for reddish-brown citrine, and 'hyacinth topaz', a misnomer for reddish-brown zircon, while 'hyacinth sapphire' is sometimes applied to a sapphire that is reddish-orange, and 'Oriental hyacinth' to reddish-brown corundum. It has been recommended that the term be discarded.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson