Cubic zirconia has long been chosen as an affordable and environmentally-friendly stone option due to its lack of mining requirements.
Your jewelry should reflect your individual tastes, priorities, and budget. Adding beauty and joy to life and celebrating its precious moments should always be at the top of the agenda!
1. Size
As with diamonds, cubic zirconia stones vary depending on their size. Larger stones tend to cost more than smaller ones but are still much cheaper than natural diamonds.
One factor affecting the cost of CZ jewelry is its chosen metal material. Precious metals like gold and platinum make jewelry more costly while sterling silver tends to be less costly.
Brand of jewelry also plays a significant role in its price. Some designer brands are known for crafting high-quality CZ stones and jewelry; however, their prices can often exceed other brands significantly.
Cubic zirconia gemstones offer an affordable alternative to diamonds and are an increasingly popular choice among consumers searching for genuine gemstones without the accompanying high price tags. Since lab-created stones can be mass produced at lower costs than diamonds.
Decisions between natural diamond and budget-friendly cubic zirconia depend entirely on personal taste. Your jewellery should reflect your individual aesthetics, values and priorities; having an in-depth knowledge of factors affecting cubic zirconia price empowers you to make informed choices that combine beauty with affordability.
2. Metal
Cubic zirconia (CZ), also known as cubiclerite, is composed of zirconium oxide. As opposed to diamonds which are mined directly from the earth, CZ production takes place in laboratories, having less of an environmental impact due to less resource intensive manufacturing techniques.
Cubic zirconia jewelry is typically created using sterling silver, as its durability makes it suitable for daily wear. Some jewelers also utilize stainless steel or gold plating to add an extra glimmer and beauty to these stones, further making them standout from other forms of jewelry. While sterling silver and gold settings may be pricey depending on which stone and setting is chosen; CZ provides an affordable alternative that won’t break the bank!
One reason CZ jewelry is more cost-effective is due to its lightweight density compared to diamond. Thus, an identical cubic zirconia stone will weigh more. Knowing about quality grades, diamond carat weight, and other important details when shopping for cubic zirconia jewelry will allow you to combine affordability with style when selecting jewelry items crafted of CZ.
Diamonds may be the crowning glory of gemstones, yet their high price tags reflect their scarcity and the labor-intensive process that creates them naturally. CZ stones represent human creativity at a lower cost.
3. Carat
Knowledge of cubic zirconia pricing enables you to make choices that best balance style and affordability. Whether it’s finished jewelry with CZ stones or loose CZ, knowing quality grades, stone size and carat weight can help guide your purchase decisions in today’s marketplace.
Cubic zirconia (abbreviated as CZ) is an increasingly popular gem alternative that bears striking resemblance to diamonds. While they might look similar, their properties differ significantly and they can easily be distinguished with simple tests. While naturally occurring cubic zirconia is extremely rare; most CZ jewelry used today comes from lab production processes.
Synthetic cubic zirconia offers an accessible alternative for anyone who wishes to experience diamond’s brilliance without paying top dollar. Production in controlled lab environments is relatively quick and economical, providing affordable options that offer brilliance comparable to that of real diamond.
CZ jewelry’s low prices may also stem from its more sustainable mining process compared to diamonds; CZ can last much longer with proper care but won’t retain its sparkly surface over time like its diamond counterpart will. Furthermore, genuine diamonds may last forever without losing their sparkle!
4. Setting
Cubic zirconia jewelry is more cost-effective to produce in a laboratory than diamonds, enabling manufacturers to keep costs low while offering stones with equal sparkle and beauty. Therefore, budget-minded consumers often turn to cubic zirconia jewelry.
CZ comes in many shapes and sizes, as well as a rainbow of colors (please refer to “Do you sell colored cubic zirconia?” for details). Common settings for CZ include prong-set (4-prong, 6-prong and 8-prong); channel-set; bezel-set. Some designers incorporate CZ into engagement ring designs as an extra touch of elegance at a fraction of the cost of diamond engagement rings.
Cubic zirconia and diamonds may appear similar, making it hard to tell them apart without an expert gemological inspection. But there are some tests you can perform at home that can help make the distinction.
One effective method to identify cubic zirconia is by watching its reaction to water; real diamonds should not turn green when exposed to liquids such as water or other substances; CZ may respond. Another simple method to differentiate diamonds and cubic zirconia pieces is holding them up to the light and seeing if they reflect. A real diamond will show an array of colors reflecting back, while CZ pieces may only produce orange sparkles.