Diamonds are known for their sparkle and brilliance making them popular in jewelry as their shine is unmatched by any other gemstone. Symbolizing eternal love, diamonds are popular in engagement rings and wedding jewelry. Because of their hardness, diamonds are also used to cut and wear away other substances and are used for industrial purposes in drills, saws and engraving tools.
The jewelry and industrial uses for diamonds created a demand for the stones and also prompted the creation of imitations which mimic the qualities of a diamond with some differences. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are two of these that are popular in jewelry.
Both are diamond simulants meaning non-diamond materials are used to create them and simulate the properties of a real diamond. Both are less expensive than a diamond and have their advantages and drawbacks.
Cubic Zirconia vs. Diamonds
Cubic zirconia (or CZ) has been used in jewelry since the 1970's. Cubic zirconias are more reflective than glass or crystal so they sparkle like diamonds. A CZ is not as hard as a diamond but weighs more, a fact that does not lessen cubic zirconias appeal since traditional carat sizes are small enough that their weight isn't perceived as greater. The majority of diamonds have inclusions, or flaws (these are measured by the Clarity component of the four C's of diamond buying.) CZs are optically flawless and they are colorless, another characteristics that is found in few diamonds as most diamonds have some yellow shading to them.
Moissanite vs. Diamonds
Moissanite is the jewelry name for silicon carbide and was introduced as a gemstone in the late 1990's. Moissanites are more refractive than diamonds meaning they shine more brilliantly making this one of the easiest ways to tell it is not a diamond. A moissanite is not as hard as a diamond but is harder than a cubic zirconia and it weighs less than a CZ. Moissanites do have inclusions like diamonds and may have green shading to them.
Both cubic zirconia and moissanite have a close visual resemblance to diamonds - they offer the luster and fire of diamonds while being mostly colorless and can be cut in the same shapes as diamonds. In jewelry making cubic zirconia and moissanite are not as popular so they are harder to find in specific cuts and are not regularly found in jewelry stores or traditional online jewelry sellers.
Diamonds are women's best friends. That is because every woman surely dreams to own even just a single piece of jewelry that has a even a piece of diamond in it. Through the years, demand for diamond has constantly been on the rise within the jewelry industry. However, because of the limited resources and mined diamonds production, prices of diamonds are really expensive and often unaffordable by common people. But because there are always alternatives, the popularity of cubic zirconia is constantly rising.
Cubic zirconia is a type of synthesized or man-made mineral that is used widely as a form of diamond simulant. Because actual prices of diamonds are often astronomical and highly costly, imitations in the form of diamond simulants have become a widely adopted alternative. What is good about diamond simulants is that they are almost looking like actual diamonds, but their prices are cheaper and can be afforded even by common people.
As a diamond stimulant, cubic zirconia is made to look as elegant and as breath-taking as actual diamonds. There is one characteristic of cubic zirconia and that is it is always flawless. Often, cubic zirconia looks more flawless and smoothly cut than actual diamonds. People who are not really familiar with how diamonds actually look and feel would have a hard time distinguishing real diamonds from cubic zirconia.
Since 1976, the production of cubic zirconia as an effective replacement and alternative to actual and real diamonds has been established. Now, there are more cubic zirconia facilities around the world. Cubic zirconia is also one of the most popular gem pieces and even the most high profile of women nowadays prefer to wear cubic zirconia jewelries.
Like the diamond, cubic zirconia is designed and specifically designed to be crystallographically isometric. This feature is important and is serving as a distinction of diamonds and cubic zirconia. The isometric characteristic is important because it gives the diamond its unique shape and physical attributes and it contributes to making diamonds the hard material that they actually are.
You know that diamonds are considered the hardest and most resistant items or materials ever. Thus, cubic zirconia is also made as hard. Cubic zirconia can now be used to replace actual diamonds in other uses, like cutting other hard and abrasive materials. Also, cubic zirconia, like diamonds, tends to resist breakage and physical features that almost always lead to breakage of other materials.
In the market, cubic zirconia can easily be found and purchased. If you aim to buy jewelries that contain cubic zirconia, all you have to do is to ask the jeweler about such items. Often, there are numerous jewelries and other accessories sold in the market that are containing cubic zirconia.
You would be able to note that even if cubic zirconia is not a real diamond, more and more jewelry enthusiasts and fashion icons prefer to wear accessories that contain the mineral instead of actual and real diamonds. Practicality is one factor that leads to this trend. Because cubic zirconia looks, feels and functions like any normal diamond does, they are sometimes not regarded as an alternative to diamond itself, but often, as important as a diamond. Almost all industries that use diamonds now use cubic zirconia.
No wonder, there is now an emerging sector that involves cubic zirconia manufacturers. Demand for the mineral is continually rising and is increasing in volume as years go by. Now, high-profile women are also proud and confident to confide that they are fond of wearing cubic zirconia jewelries. Such gestures make patronage of the mineral wider and more appreciated by the society. The aesthetic value of cubic zirconia is something that makes it more of a gemstone than a synthesized, mineral material.
However, consumers should beware. It is easy to make the error of identifying cubic zirconia as an actual diamond. The risk comes when consumers buy actual diamonds. Experts should accompany any consumer when doing so, or else there is danger of actually buying cubic zirconia at prices that are costly and fit only for genuine diamonds.
There is always a cheaper alternative to every costly material or item to be found in the market. Good thing there is cubic zirconia. Now, people will never find the need to be desperate just to own diamonds. Cubic zirconia is sold as a cheaper and more affordable alternative to diamonds.
Both Jill Renee & Kirk Peterson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jill Renee has sinced written about articles on various topics from Jewelry, Etiquette and Food And Drink. Jill Renee is the president of Danforth Diamond, an online jewelry seller specializing in . Learn more about at:. Jill Renee's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Kirk Peterson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bathroom Home Improvement, Cubic Zirconia and Jewelry. has been a popular alternative to actual diamonds. The features and usefulness of the synthetic mineral makes it look and function like a real diamond. Visit our online resource for. Kirk Peterson's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.