Cubic Zirconia Jewelry

About Cubic Zirconia Jewelry

A kiss on the hand may still be quite continental, but these days cubic zirconia jewelry often replaces diamonds as a girl's best friend.

Mining diamonds is a dangerous, back-breaking task, and the difficulty it takes to harvest them from solid rock is reflected in the high cost of these premier gem stones. On the other hand, cubic zirconia (CZ) can be manufactured in a laboratory/factory setting, producing synthetic jewels that are nearly dead ringers for true diamonds.

For the cost-conscious, cubic zirconia jewelry is a less expensive alternative to the real thing.

Creating CZ Crystals

Natural cubic zirconia was first discovered in the late 1930's, but today these "imitation diamonds" are man-made.

An apparatus called a "skull crucible" is used to super-heat a combination of zirconia powder, and a stabilizer, usually calcium oxide or yttria, to five-thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Gradually the heat is reduced, causing the formation of tubular crystals that are cut into gem stones once the entire product is cooled.

Cubic zirconia jewelry is most often white, or clear, however it's possible to tint the stones by adding a variety of metal oxides during the synthesizing process.

Telling the Difference

CZ and diamonds are virtually identical to the average lay person, but jewelers can easily spot the difference between them.

Diamonds are certainly brilliant, but since they are formed in a natural environment, they usually carry traces of impurities, as well as some natural flaws. CZ doesn't have any flaws because of the carefully controlled way it is created, and its facets give off a spectrum of colors.

Weight is another give away. Side-by-side, a diamond and a CZ of the same size and cut may look alike, but weigh them and you'll find that the CZ is seventy-five percent heavier than the diamond.

Now let's compare hardness. It's well known that a diamond is the hardest gemstone, requiring the use of another diamond to cut one. The Mohr Scale, used to compare the hardness of gems, gives diamonds a top rating of ten. In comparison, a CZ only rates an eight and a half.

Cleaning

CZ should be kept very clean since body oils and other pollutants can dull the crystals. Since these simulated jewels are so hard, it's safe to use any standard jewelry cleaning solution and brush to keep them in top condition.

Conclusion

The mass manufacturing of CZ since the 1980's has resulted in an abundance of these popular diamond look-alikes. Even though CZ is less expensive than true diamonds, it doesn't mean that all jewelry made with it is cheap. Quite the opposite is true, and many fine quality broaches, earrings and necklaces are made using these crystals in combination with precious metals and a bevy of complimentary gem stones.

The next time you visit a jewelry store, give yourself a little test. Ask your jeweler to show you two rings, one diamond and one CZ. Compare them and see if you can tell which one is which without being told.

External Links

• OrleansJewels.com
• Ice.com