The Cubic Zirconia

1. The Cubic Zirconia There are many alternatives that one would find to replace natural diamonds. There are many reasons one would look for these alternatives, ranging from the high costly price of natural diamonds, to unethical practices used in mining, to wanting a greater control over the shape, size, and colour of the diamond you wish to use. These replacements to the natural diamond could be the synthetic kind, a simulated diamond, or those that have been grown by a cvd diamond manufacturer. The cubic zirconia is a synthetic diamond. It is used in the making of a variety of jewellery items that includes bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings, or even- you guessed it- the much sought after engagement ring. Jewellery made using cubic zirconia has been gaining immense popularity, and is widely found distributed across the globe. Cubic zirconia is made from zirconia dioxide or zirconium oxide. It is made by melting zirconium oxide powder along with magnesium and calcium which act as stabilizers, at a very high temperature of 4,982 degrees Fahrenheit. After being subjected to this heat for many hours, crystals form and stabilize into the diamond structure, ready to be cut and polished. Because cubic zirconia is made from a different material than diamonds, it has a close but different chemical composition. Therefore, it is not a true diamond, although the untrained eye can easily mistake it for one. It has a greater light dispersion than natural diamonds, and the prismatic fire so produced can be see even by the untrained eye. Cubic zirconia is also heavier than diamonds, though not as hard as diamonds are famously known to be. They boast a solid rating of approximately 8 on the mohs Hardness Scale, while natural diamonds, as the hardest material on earth known to man occupies the slot rated at 10. This unique lab grown diamond look-alike is economically and in gemology, the biggest competitor to diamonds. This is because of its close visual likeness to

2. diamonds, combined with a strong durability and low cost. A cubic zirconia typically weighs more than a diamond- roughly 1.7 times greater than a diamond of the same size. Contemporary production of the cubic zirconia produces some virtually flawless stones, which is a feat not achieved by natural diamonds which usually have some kind of defect or flaw, whether it is a feather, included crystal, or a remnant of the original face of the crystal. Cubic zirconia can be made to shine with a transparent glow, with the production of stones that are entirely colourless. Natural diamonds on the other hand, even the primarily colourless ones, possess a tinge of yellow or brown in them. You can have your cubic zirconia shaped in a variety of structures. Whether you prefer ovals, hearts, cushion shaped, or marquise, princess, emerald, or pear cuts, you can have a shape of your choosing crowning your ring finger. You will find that synthetic diamonds such as cubic zirconia are a great alternative to the natural diamond, and will help you feel like you are wearing jewellery fit for a queen.