Cubic Zirconia Gemstones

Cubic zirconia gemstones are featured prominently in bridal attire. As an affordable lab-grown diamond alternative, cubic zirconia offers brides plenty of sparkle at their big day.

This special stone was first identified in 1892 as baddeleyite, an organic form of zirconium oxide. But German mineralogists did not isolate cubic zirconia until 1937 during an experiment conducted in their laboratories.

It’s a man-made stone

Cubic zirconia is an artificial gemstone created to resemble diamonds. Composed from zirconium dioxide crystals, its hues mimic those found in different gemstones while its variety of shapes allows it to resemble ideal cut diamonds more closely than ever. Finally, cubic zirconia offers much cheaper alternatives to natural diamonds – making it a more cost-effective investment!

“Cubic” refers to its crystal structure while the name “zirconia” derives from zirconium as its chemical element. The first diamond-like stones were discovered by Germany’s dynamic duo of mineralogy, M. V. Stackelberg and K. Chudoba in 1937 – although neither recognized or documented their significance at first; X-ray diffraction ultimately proved that these natural equivalents of today’s synthetic diamonds.

A: Cubic zirconia can easily be mistaken for real diamond due to its brilliance and clarity, though its differences from genuine ones can be distinguished by color and weight. When purchasing one of these artificial gems, one should pay particular attention to carat weight since this indicates its size; genuine stones have standard length-width-depth ratio measurements set forth by the International Gemological Institute (IGI). Cubic zirconia weighs more due to being 1.7 denser than diamond.

Cubic zirconia, often referred to as fake diamond, cannot be used as jewelry; however, its many other benefits make it an appealing alternative. Cubic zirconia requires minimal care or maintenance and comes in an assortment of colors – its amazing sparkle makes it one of Azura’s most widely used stones!

Notably, cubic zirconia rings do not hold the same resale value as diamond ones and may become damaged through repeated exposure to water. To prevent damage to one of your rings from water-borne exposure, remove it before entering shower or pool environments.

It’s a diamond simulant

Cubic zirconia (CZ) is an affordable stone that looks similar to diamonds in terms of appearance. It boasts brilliant sparkle, durable enough for daily wear, and stands up well against oxidation which causes many natural gemstones to lose their sparkle over time. CZ may scratch when dropped onto hard surfaces but luckily protective jewelry exists that will protect its stone and prevent scratches.

As opposed to diamonds, cubic zirconia does not exhibit any natural flaws or inclusions and can therefore pass for an imperfect diamond without being visible to the naked eye. Due to this similarity between its durability and visual resemblance of flawless diamonds, it has become widely used as a diamond simulant; due to its low cost it is increasingly popular as engagement rings or other fine jewellery options.

Moissanite and cubic zirconia are two synthetic gemstones frequently mistook for genuine diamonds. While both stones share some physical similarities to diamonds in appearance, their properties do differ slightly;moissanite has more intense brilliance than cubic zirconia which may appeal to certain consumers but can have negative resale value consequences.

Both stones are composed of aluminosilicate crystals with the chemical formula ZrSiO4. Both were first developed as diamond simulants during the 1930s, though their popularity didn’t spread until more recently. Now more common than natural diamonds and used across a variety of jewelry styles.

Zircons are typically clear and colorless stones, yet can come in an array of hues. Doping zircon with various elements such as cerium can produce red, yellow and orange tones while chromium provides green hues. Some manufacturers even add thin films of metal oxide for an iridescent effect on their stones.

Diamonds are one of the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth and can be easily identified by their resistance to scratching. Diamonds also exhibit highly lustrous surface characteristics and sharp facet edges, as well as being extremely dense for maximum brilliance and resistance to abrasion resistance. Simulants cost less than genuine diamonds but lack their same resale value.

It’s durable

Cubic zirconia crystals add sparkle and beauty to designs of all kinds. Used widely across jewelry pieces ranging from earrings, pendants, rings, necklaces and bracelets; its versatility allows designers to incorporate it in various ways for contrast or gemstone enhancement; its affordability also makes it a suitable budget alternative that lasts every day of wear.

Cubic zirconia is produced by melting zirconium oxide with other minerals in an electric metal furnace at approximately 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit and cutting the crystals into various bead and gem shapes – similar to how natural diamonds form.

As well as its sparkling surface, cubic zirconia stones are known for being durable and resist scratching and discoloration. While not as hard as natural diamonds, cubic zirconia stones still much harder than sapphires and rubies – making it an excellent choice for engagement rings. However, it should be remembered that cubic zirconia stones may become damaged over time from contact with chemicals or other materials; and over time being worn frequently may also result in scratched surfaces.

Although lab-created diamonds and cubic zirconia may appear similar, jewelers and gemologists can differentiate them. The key element that allows this is brilliance – diamond’s sparkle comes from its ability to bend and reflect light – something gemologists use refraction tests for. Cubic zirconia does not bend light as easily so will not have the same sparkle.

Diamonds stand out from synthetic gemstones by their superior clarity, which can be hard to match. Cubic zirconia typically appears eye-clean but may develop cloudiness that decreases its brilliance over time.

Avoid these problems by purchasing cubic zirconia from a reliable jeweler and inspecting its certificate of authenticity; this document should include its name, manufacturer and laboratory report.

It’s available in a variety of colors

Cubic zirconia gemstones come in an assortment of colors, making them an excellent alternative to colored diamonds or gemstones. Due to the nature of their creation, they can also be cut into varying shapes for easy jewelry designs and everyday wear. Plus, their durability means you’ll enjoy every day wear!

When purchasing cubic zirconia jewelry, the quality of the stone should be carefully considered. When purchasing hand-cut as opposed to machine-cut cubic zirconia stones, ensure all facets are evenly spaced and well polished for best results. Likewise, choose high clarity stones; quality cubic zirconia will have a crystal clear appearance without flaws and inclusions.

Durability should also be taken into consideration with cubic zirconia jewelry. Although not as hard or as dense as natural or lab-grown diamond, cubic zirconia remains quite durable. Furthermore, it’s hypoallergenic, which means it won’t cause allergic reactions for most people and it won’t get wet in water, however you should remove your jewelry before showering or swimming to avoid damage to its surface.

Cubic zirconia is not only hypoallergenic, but it is also inexpensive and long-lasting – characteristics which make it popularly used in fashion and jewelry applications. Available in an assortment of colors and styles, cubic zirconia can serve as a cost-cutting alternative to costly stones like sapphires or emeralds or serve as replacement stones in engagement rings.

Colored cubic zirconia is created through a process called doping, in which various elements are added to a zirconium oxide crystal and cause its color to change over time. Dopants may include yellow, green, blue, purple or pink pigments. Furthermore, cubic zirconia is polymorphic material meaning that different shapes such as round, emerald princess and radiant cuts can be formed from it.

Cubic zirconia may not be as hard or sapphire-hard, but it outshines other popular diamond simulants in terms of hardness. Plus, its very affordable prices make it a suitable alternative to real gemstones. Although cubic zirconia itself may not naturally resist water exposure, this can be remedied through coating its surface with special chemicals that create water resistance.