LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS CUBIC ZIRCONIA
So what is cubic zirconia ? Cubic zirconia, also called a cz, is a laboratory grown gem material that has an appearance similar to that of a
natural gem material but with different optical, physical, and chemical properties.
Cubic zirconia is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide. It is made from a mixture of high purity zirconium oxide powders and
stabilized with magnesium and calcium.
The amount of each ingredient is carefully controlled, with certain additives sometimes being used to achieve a similar appearance to
genuine diamonds.
Cubic zirconia is a man made substitute for diamonds.
It is much closer to the physical characteristics of a real diamond than other imitations.
Since the early 1970's, when cubic zirconia was first discovered by the russians,
it is the most important competitor for diamonds because of its low cost, quality, durability and visual likeness to a diamond.
At today's times , cubic zirconia, is the finest available alternative to a diamond. This is because it has many of the same properties
of a diamond. It has the same shape, colour and cannot be scratched by dirt or sand. Most people
cannot tell the difference between a well-cut cubic zirconia stone and a diamond (cubic zirconia vs diamond) using
only the naked eye and the popularity of
cubic zirconia jewelery is on the increase.
The quality of a cubic zirconia is determined by the four C's: cut, clarity, colour & carat. It is a combination of all these four grades
that determines the value and quality of the Cz.
Colored and colourless varieties of cz are the major types produced nowadays. The coloured varieties of cubic zirconia range from the palest of yellow
and green to the brightest of reds.
Cz's are available in both higher and lower grades ranging from a ten dollars per carat to a hundred. The quality of cubic zirconia's is generally
rated in A's, with the highest being five A's and the lowest one A.
The market for cubic zirconia jewelry as a substitute for diamonds, is expected to increase as
mass market retailers continue to offer it to their customers
and price continues to decline.
In other words, it is no longer being considered just a cheap imitation, especially with improvements in
brightness and reflection.
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