Cubic Zirconia Vs Diamond – How to Tell the Difference

Diamonds are widely considered the crowning glory of gemstones. Renowned for their durability and status as one of a girl’s best friends, diamonds have earned themselves this title.

Cubic zirconia is an affordable diamond substitute used in casual fashion jewellery and budget rings, looking almost identical when seen for the naked eye; however, several inspection techniques exist that can help distinguish them.

1. Price

Diamonds reign supreme as gems, commanding an incredible price because of their rarity and natural elegance. However, this price also reflects how nature formed it from carbon into carat.

Cubic zirconia is an economical diamond alternative that replicates its appearance without its pricey price tag, making it popular as engagement rings, pendants and everyday earrings.

To distinguish a diamond from cubic zirconia, simply put the gem under a microscope. Real diamonds contain natural flaws known as inclusions; in comparison, cubic zirconia lacks these features.

Decisions on what gemstone to select depend entirely upon individual preferences, values, and priorities. Letting the occasion and purpose of jewelry shape your choice will ensure it perfectly accompanies its meaning; for those wanting to shine a spotlight on life’s precious moments diamonds might be ideal; otherwise cubic zirconia might provide illumination into daily routine.

2. Brilliance

Cubic zirconia may resemble diamonds to the naked eye, making them popular choice in fashion and costume jewelry. But with some simple inspection techniques you can distinguish them easily.

One of the clearest indicators that a stone is real or fake is its brilliance (or “fire”) — how it sparkles and reflects light. Diamonds are known for their brilliance, while cubic zirconia may also exhibit sparkly properties. While diamonds reflect white light only when lit from behind, while cubic zirconia may show other colors too.

Durability is another critical consideration, assessing how well a stone resists scratches and damage over time. Diamonds are known to be highly durable; however, they can still become scratched or chipped when coming into contact with other materials. On the other hand, cubic zirconia stands out as being extremely strong and scratch-resistant, lasting up to lifetime if treated appropriately; additionally being lab created as opposed to mined means no human rights abuses or environmental degradation occurs during its creation process – making it an attractive option for those seeking the beauty of diamond without its price tag!

3. Hardness

Although diamonds are generally associated with purity, rarity and authenticity, individual shoppers have their own priorities when choosing their gemstone. While some prefer natural diamonds for their prestige and symbolism, others appreciate cubic zirconia gemstones’ accessibility and affordability.

Cubic zirconia features an exceptional hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale, making it suitable for daily wear and tear, although not quite as durable as natural diamonds (which reach 10). Though this shouldn’t be considered an issue when choosing jewelry as long-term investments.

Cubic zirconia is often referred to as a “diamond simulant”, due to its close visual similarity with diamonds. A quick way to differentiate a real diamond from cubic zirconia is to look for rounded edges versus sharp facets, as well as polished marks in the same direction on adjacent facets – this indicates real diamonds do not contain internal inclusions or flaws.

4. Shape

Many are drawn to the timeless allure of natural diamonds, appreciating their classic beauty and emotional resonance; others may prefer affordable cubic zirconia due to its affordability and captivating sparkle. What matters most is choosing a gem that embodies your special moments while reflecting your personal style, sentiments and priorities.

As a general rule, diamonds are free from flaws or inclusions and you can tell whether your piece of jewelry contains one by holding it up to the light and looking for them. Cubic zirconia tends to have less inclusions due to its laboratory production process.

Cubic zirconia gemstones exhibit higher dispersion rates (a measure of their fire) than diamonds and will reflect rainbow-hued colors, making them easy to distinguish between real diamonds and cubic zirconia stones. If an otherwise authentic looking diamond does not sparkle the same, it could be fake; to accurately verify whether an item is natural or synthetic gemstone, an experienced jeweler would possess tools and expertise necessary for identification verification.

5. Color

Diamonds and cubic zirconia appear similar to an untrained eye, which explains why jewelers and gemologists use the term “diamond simulant” when discussing cubic zirconia.

As well as their prices, genuine diamonds differ from their man-made equivalents in several other ways. While diamonds form naturally under the earth’s surface and have long been prized gemstones, cubic zirconia is produced through melting zirconium dioxide with stabilizers before hardening it into rock forms.

Cubic zirconia doesn’t bend or refract light like diamonds do; rather, it reflects white light without much color reflection compared to diamonds which show their “fire.”

Your selection of gemstone jewelry should depend upon your budget, intended use, and how well it aligns with your values, lifestyle, and priorities. While many consumers appreciate natural diamonds’ prestige and value, others prefer cubic zirconia’s accessibility – whatever choice you make should reflect your own style and sentiments.