Article : Cubic Zirconia
Do you know Cubic Zirconia?
(It should not be confused with zircon, which is a zirconium silicate. It is sometimes erroneously called cubic zirconium. Some colorless high-quality specimens are a popular substitute for diamond).
Cubic zirconia, also known as CZ stone, is similar to a diamond with its brilliance and crystal clarity, but it is a synthesized crystal material that is colorless, hard, and flawless. It looks a lot like a diamond and is an affordable alternative to diamonds. Unlike simulated diamond, a synthetic diamond is a real diamond although it is created in the laboratory.
Cubic zirconia is a synthetic stone developed by researchers in the 1960s, for industrial applications, particularly in the laser industry. It was not until the 1970s that scientists developed the first form of cubic zircon as we know it today. It is thanks to its great resemblance to the diamond as well as its low cost that it was quickly adopted by the jewelry industry.
Cubic zirconia stones look very similar to diamonds, and it is difficult for the naked eye to tell the difference between cubic zirconia and a diamond. The word “cubic” indicates that it is formed according to a method to produce cubic crystals similar to those in a diamond. It is also machine-cut like a real diamond.
There are however some differences, here are the main ones:
- WITHOUT INCLUSION; cubic zirconia is practically flawless and is completely colorless while the diamond has some imperfections and a slightly yellowish hue.
- DURABILITY; cubic zirconia is less hard than a diamond and is much more easily scratched and damaged. It has a hardness of 8 to 8.5 unlike 10 for the diamond. In comparison, the glass has a hardness of about 5.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
- HEAVIER AND MORE DENSE THAN DIAMOND; cubic zirconia is heavier, nearly 1.7 times more than a diamond of equal size. It also has a higher density, 5.6 to 6 while the diamond is around 3.5. Thus at the equivalent carat, the cubic zirconia will be smaller than the diamond.
- THERMAL INSULATOR; cubic zirconia is a thermal insulator while diamond is a thermal conductor, which is why the diamond is cold when you touch it and heats or cools very quickly.
- AFFORDABLE; The price of cubic zirconia is much lower than that of a diamond, about 1000 times lower for the same carat.
The maintenance of cubic zirconia jewelry is very easy. They can be cleaned with any jewelry cleaning product. You can even use a brush to remove dust or dirt. It is recommended to wipe the stone after cleaning, you will avoid the deposition of a thin film which would affect the brilliance of the jewel.
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