Even jewellers cannot tell the difference
between a Cubic Zirconia and a diamond with the naked eye! Cubic
Zirconia jewelry is extremely cheap compared to jewelry containing real
diamonds. So what are the differences between stones created with Cubic
Zirconia as opposed to diamonds? What are the Pro's and Cons of Cubic
Zirconia jewelry?
Quality of
Diamonds compared to Cubic Zirconia (or CZ)
The Cut, Clarity,
Color and Carat Weight all have a significant impact on the Cost of
diamonds because these factors are all used to value the price of a
diamond. The Cut, Color, and Clarity are used to measure the quality of
the diamond and the Carat is used to measure the weight of a diamond.
The elements of the 4C's have been used to compare diamonds and Cubic
Zirconia and the comparisons are detailed below.
Diamonds are Forever...
An Impartial Guide to Diamonds
Cubic Zirconia
(also known as CZ) - The Advantages
Facts and Information
about the advantages of Cubic Zirconia are as follows:
- Cost - The cost of Cubic Zirconia is roughly a tenth of the
price of natural diamonds
- Appearance - Cubic Zirconia is so optically close to diamond
that even jewellers cannot tell the difference between a Cubic
Zirconia and a diamond with the naked eye - jewellers use a
loupe to tell the difference
- Clarity - Cubic
Zirconia is virtually flawless equivalent to Grade F on the
Diamond Clarity Chart
Inclusions / Flaws
- Cubic Zirconia is virtually flawless whereas most diamonds
have internal inclusions or external blemishes- Color - Cubic
Zirconia CZ can be made entirely colorless or white, equivalent
to a perfect "D" on the color grading scale of diamonds
- Colored Cubic
Zirconia CZ - Natural colored diamonds are extremely rare and
expensive but synthetic gemstones like the Cubic Zirconia be
made in a variety of different colors
- Fluorescence - An undesirable hazy effect. The Fluorescence of
diamonds or Cubic Zirconia (CZ) is not usually noticed by the naked eye but
can be seen under ultraviolet lighting
at dance clubs and Jewelry stores. Under ultraviolet lighting
Cubic Zirconia typically fluoresces a yellow, greenish yellow or
beige color. Diamonds fluoresce a blue color
- Hardness -
Hardness denotes resistance to
scratching
as opposed to Toughness which relates to the ability to
resist breakage from falls or impacts.
Cubic Zirconia is
much harder than most natural gems at about 8.5 on the Mohs
scale, however it is nowhere near as hard as a diamond at 10.0 on the Mohs scale
- Weight and Size -
Cubic Zirconia CZ is about 75% heavier than diamond and measured
in millimetres, referring to the diameter, as opposed to carats.
A Cubic Zirconia CZ will weigh about 1.7 times more than a
diamond of equivalent size. A 6.5 mm Cubic Zirconia is equal in
sizeto a one-carat diamond but actually
weighsabout 1.75 carats.
Cubic Zirconia CZ
Jewelry
Cubic Zirconia
jewelry started to become popular during the 1980's. Cubic Zirconia
jewelry include all different types of rings including wedding rings,
engagement rings and eternity rings set in silver sterling and gold.
Cubic Zirconia jewelry also include earrings, necklaces, pendants,
bracelets again set in silver sterling and gold.
Cubic Zirconia
(also known as CZ) - The Disadvantages
Facts and Information
about the disadvantages of Cubic Zirconia are as follows:
- Jewelry containing synthetic gemstones like Cubic Zirconia are
not a good investment, they do not hold their price
- Cubic Zirconia CZ
has slightly less sparkle than diamonds. Sparkle is a measure of
the light reflected out by a diamond as it is viewed from
different angles
- Fire - Cubic
Zirconia CZ has more 'fire' or brilliance producing a more
synthetic effect
The white-white
color of the the Cubic Zirconia CZ is a less believable
imitation as white-white color diamonds are extremely rare
- Hardness - Diamonds are harder than Cubic Zirconia which
is 8.5 on the Mohs scale compared to a diamond at about 10.0 on
the Mohs scale
- Toughness - Cubic
Zirconia is more brittle than diamond and has
less ability to resist breakage
from falls or impacts
- Rarity - Cubic Zirconia is not rare and can be made quickly and
in vast quantities, whereas natural diamonds take millions of
years to form
- Status and Wealth -
Cubic Zirconia has not got the same status as a diamond and does
not indicate wealth
- Symbolic Value -
Diamonds have long symbolised love and purity - Cubic Zirconia
has no symbolic value
Cubic Zirconia CZ
Colors
CZ comes in a wide range
of different colors including the popular white, or colorless and
unusual purple:
- Colorless or white - Brilliance of a diamond
- Pink - Pink is an
extremely popular CZ color
- Blue - Blue
sapphire color
- Orange - Orange red
colors from light to dark hues
- Purple - Unusual
color similar to a deep purple amethyst
- Green - Green
emerald color
- Champagne -
Champagne, light brown color
Cubic Zirconia CZ
- Definition
What exactly is Cubic
Zirconia? Definition: It is a high quality synthetic gemstone which
imitates the appearance of diamonds and is usually made in a lab. Cubic Zirconia (or CZ) is zirconium
oxide (ZrO2) a mineral that is extremely rare in nature but easily
synthesized for use as a diamond simulant. Synthesized Cubic Zirconia
(or CZ) is hard, optically flawless and can made in a variety of
different colors.
History
Timeline of Cubic Zirconia (or CZ)
The following
timeline details the discovery and production of Cubic Zirconia (or CZ)
1892:
The mineral
baddeleyite was only natural form of zirconium oxide
known
1930: A synthetic product of
stabilized zirconia was introduced
1937: German mineralogists M. V.
Stackelberg and K. Chudoba discovered naturally
occurring Cubic Zirconia but it was not considered
important
1960's: Scientists
looked at Cubic Zirconia (or CZ) as a new, versatile
material for use in lasers and other optical
applications
1960's: French
Scientists Y. Roulin and R. Collongues conducted some of
the earliest research
1973: Russian
scientists under V. V. Osiko at the Lebedev Physical
Institute in Moscow perfected the gemstone which they
called Fianit, but the name was not used outside of the
USSR.
1976: Commercial
production of Cubic Zirconia (or CZ) began
1980: Annual
global production reached 50 million carats
1980's: Swarovsk &
Co., began producing Cubic Zirconia (or CZ)
1990's:
Research undertake to improve Cubic Zirconia (or CZ) by
adding coatings made of a film of diamond-like carbon (DLC)
or Amorphous Diamond producing a harder, more lustrous
and more diamond-like product by quenching the excess
fire of CZ
The above History Timeline provides
details the discovery and production of CZ and its use as an imitation
of diamond.
Cubic Zirconia Jewelry
CZ jewelry is available in
rings, wedding rings, engagement rings, earrings, eternity rings,
necklace, pendant, bracelet all set in silver sterling and gold.
Guide - Colors - Facts -
Information -Info - Jewelry - Jewellery - Definition
Quality - Timeline History - Comparison with Diamonds
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