Dense zircon (ZrSiO4) bodies composed of equiaxed grains have been obtained from uniform nanosized powder compacts. The nanosized powders (20 nm in diameter) were prepared by the controlled hydrolysis with ammonium hydroxide of zirconyl chloride and tetraethoxysilane within reverse micelle nanocavities. The crystallochemical characteristics of the as-prepared powders and their thermal evolution up to the formation of the thermodynamically stable ZrSiO4 were also examined.