There is much public confusion between four materials: zircon, zirconium, zirconia and cubic zirconia. Summary definitions of these terms are provided below.

Zircon is a naturally occurring mineral with a chemical composition of ZrSiO₄.

Zirconium is a silvery white metal and a chemical element. It has an atomic number of 40 and an atomic symbol of Zr.

Zirconia is the white crystalline oxide of zirconium with a chemical composition of ZrO₂. A naturally occurring, but rare, form of ZrO₂ is the mineral baddeleyite.

Cubic Zirconia is a synthetic gemstone with an appearance that is very similar to diamond. It sells for a tiny fraction of the cost of diamond and has historically been the most commonly used diamond simulant.

All of these materials are related. Zirconium, zirconia and cubic zirconia are all produced from industrial-grade zircon.