Cubic Zirconia Gems – A Diamond Alternative

Cubic zirconia gems may have earned themselves an unfavorable reputation in the past, but there are numerous reasons to embrace them today. From their varied shapes, sizes and colors to providing an affordable diamond alternative – cubic zirconia stones offer something special.

An easy way to test the authenticity of gemstones is placing them on a piece of newspaper and placing a heat source under them – this should allow the heat stored up inside to dissipate immediately, while CZs should remain cloudy and opaque.

1. It’s a Diamond Simulant

Although you’ve probably encountered diamond alternatives at jewelry shops or online, you might be confused as to how they compare with real diamonds. Unfortunately, most diamond alternatives are synthetically manufactured and don’t resemble mined diamonds in any significant way; however, diamond simulants do have their place as engagement ring alternatives and tend to be less costly than real ones.

Cubic zirconia (CZ) is an affordable diamond substitute that closely resembles its real counterpart in both appearance and cost. Produced by melting zirconium oxide combined with other minerals such as calcium and magnesium before heating to approximately 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, CZ crystals can then be cut into various shapes such as round and princess cuts for use as jewelry pieces.

CZ (Cubic Zirconia) is an inert stone that’s hard and durable, but lacks the reflective properties of real diamond. As such, CZ rings will appear darker when placed side-by-side with genuine diamond rings of equal size. Furthermore, cubic zirconia’s low dispersion density means it won’t produce as many rainbow colors when polished like natural diamonds do.

CZ can be doped with various elements to produce an array of colors and more accurate replicas of diamonds, making it one of the most sought-after affordable diamond simulants since 1976.

While some purchase cubic zirconia stones for their sparkle alone, others choose them due to their healing properties and astrological associations. According to research conducted on animals using cubic zirconia stones for healing purposes they’ve been proven to reduce egos while improving relationships, as well as balance heart chakras and strengthen auras.

Some companies go as far as coating cubic zirconia with a film of diamond-like carbon in order to improve its appearance and durability. They claim this coating helps control excess fire in the stones while improving their ability to reflect light similar to diamonds.

Diamonds may offer high resale values, but they might not always be the right investment choice for everyone. If you prefer durable yet beautiful gems such as moissanite or white topaz over cubic zirconia.

2. It’s Not Mined

Cubic zirconia is not a natural gemstone. While small crystals of it may occasionally be found within baddeleyite and zircon, the cubic zirconia used in jewellery today is created in a lab from high-purity zirconium oxide powder stabilized with magnesium and calcium for color enhancement; iron or copper impurities may also be added for hue variation; for pink cubic zirconia gems erbium europium or holmium is often added for extra sparkle.

Cubic Zirconia is not mined, meaning that its production does not contribute to human rights abuses and environmental destruction caused by mining operations. While purchasing diamond simulants can have their advantages, consumers should carefully consider what they’re getting out of supporting an alternative product over supporting real diamond mining operations.

One of the primary differences between cubic zirconia and actual diamonds is that diamonds usually feature visible flaws that can be seen by the naked eye, although diamonds without flaws are exceedingly rare and costly to purchase. Cubic zirconia offers near flawless clarity that may sometimes even appear too perfect to be real.

Lack of natural imperfections may pose problems for buyers seeking to use their gems in rituals or other significant activities, such as protection talismans. Cubic zirconia stones may not be ideal choices as they can easily become damaged by chemicals and discolored over time.

Another drawback of cubic zirconia is its inability to retain the sparkle and brilliance of diamonds, leading to dull or grey surfaces and less appealing sparkle. Even lab created diamond simulants like moissanite may gradually lose their brilliance over time.

Cubic zirconia jewellery does not possess the same resale value as genuine diamonds due to perception issues; many consider it to be cheap, low quality costume jewelry rather than authentic diamond. However, there are no lower grade options available when purchasing cubic zirconia pieces.

3. It’s Not Sustainably Made

Many consumers enjoy the look and feel of cubic zirconia as it emulates diamonds so closely, yet many consumers worry that its production isn’t sustainable. While real diamonds are mined out of the ground for their gemstones, CZ gems are man-made in laboratories – not all lab-created gemstones are equal; quality levels vary and will affect how much your jewelry costs.

Cubic zirconia offers great value compared to genuine diamonds; one carat of CZ can be purchased for as little as $10-$20 while genuine diamonds start at approximately $1800 per carat. Naturally, as more carats are purchased the higher their costs become.

Cubic zirconia (CZ) is a synthetic form of zirconium dioxide. Though natural forms exist within zircon and baddeleyite deposits, most CZ sold commercially is manufactured in a lab environment.

Zirconium oxide powder is heated at very high temperatures in a metal chamber until crystal formation occurs, at which point minerals like calcium and magnesium are added into the mix and crystals start forming. Once they’re hot enough, crystals can then be cut, polished, shaped, polished again before being cut to create jewelry pieces from CZ stones – an affordable way to wear fashion jewelry or use as engagement rings as an inexpensive substitute.

CZ gemstones may not last as long as diamonds, but with proper care they can last just as long. Rated an 8.5 on the Mohs scale – harder than most natural gems and unlikely to scratch or break as easily – however over time their sparkle will wear away.

Cubic zirconia may be an economical alternative for those unable to purchase real diamonds, yet it doesn’t compare in beauty or brilliance with genuine gems. Therefore, saving up for one later would be better than settling for fakes now; also bear in mind that CZ can tarnish or rust if set in low-grade metal such as copper.

4. It’s Not Resale Value

Cubic zirconia gemstones tend to have lower resale values compared to diamonds due to their less durable composition, as they will get scratched or cloudy more quickly over time. If you plan on wearing your engagement ring for many years or passing it down generations, selecting high-quality cubic zirconia in a strong metal setting might be best; or alternatively you could consider moissanite that has similar chemical makeup as diamond.

CZ prices depend on their quality, size and brand; bulk purchasing offers discounts; metal choice also has an impact; for instance sterling silver rings tend to last well under daily wear without becoming dull or scratched whereas stainless steel or titanium might provide alternatives that are also durable yet more budget-friendly options.

CZs come in various shapes and sizes, such as emerald-cut, oval-cut, pear-shaped and princess cut emerald-cut diamonds; they can also be made to appear like pear shaped diamonds and heart shapes. While CZs may look durable they should not be worn with materials that might cause scratches such as leather.

Cubic zirconia jewelry, such as earrings and pendants, is often combined with precious metals to form beautiful earrings and pendants. While CZ pieces can make stunning additions, they should only be worn casually and aren’t usually recommended as engagement rings. But for more budget-minded buyers who plan to save up for diamond rings in the future, CZ jewelry may be a more cost-effective choice than diamond. Just be mindful that chlorine damage may damage it over time – if worn when washing dishes or swimming or doing anything involving water-related activities it should be removed before taking part. In order to keep its beauty longer if worn regularly, take off before washing dishes/swimming/swimning/swimmin before washing dishes/swimmin. If worn take it off before washing dishes/swimming etc as chlorine damage could damage it over time and keep away from other chemicals/minerals/minerals/minerals/minerals/minerals/minerals/minerals/minerals may affect its stone over time so if worn during water related activities such as washing dishes/swim it off prior to washing dishes/swim/ swimming/etc, taking it off before washing dishes/swim/inging to ensure its integrity is preserved properly as chemicals/ swimming/water related activities or swimming/ing it off before swimming and before washing dishes/swimping etc! Try keeping away from other chemicals/minerals etc/minerals/minerals etc….