Cubic Zirconia also known as CZ or CZ diamonds was created as affordable alternative for genuine diamonds. It is the most prominent choice among all fake diamonds. They come in every color imaginable at a fraction of the cost of other precious gemstones.
Chemically, cubic zirconia made up of zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide. The process however is quite complicated. When combined, the two chemicals create a beautiful, radiant crystal. It takes almost 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit to melt the two chemicals together and then they are cooled in a specific manner. The chemicals must be carefully cooled in order to create flawless CZ crystals.
History of Cubic Zirconia CZ Jewelry
In 1937, two German mineralogists discovered the cubic form of zirconium oxide. But it wasnt until the 1970s when Soviet scientists learned how to prepare this mineral in the laboratory. After this, Cubic Zirconia or CZ became popular with jewelry designers and manufacturers.
Cubic Zirconia is chemically comprised of zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide. Though individually, both of these materials are opaque, but when they are melted together under the right conditions, they form brilliant Cubic Zirconia CZ.
Properties
Cubic Zirconias are not artificial diamonds, they are genuine Cubic Zirconia. CZs are an art in themselves. Manufacturers created the colorful Cubic zirconias CZ that we have today after the white Cubic Zirconias became so popular. The Cubic Zirconia CZ is very dense and solid and would weigh 1.7 times more than a diamond of the exact size. They are cut the same way as diamonds. The only difference is that Cubic Zirconias CZ are flawless and very affordable. With proper care, they will not lose their brilliance. Cubic Zirconias CZ set in rhodium finished sterling silver looks just like diamonds set in platinum, and it will never tarnish.
The Cubic Zirconia CZ is a great substitute for diamonds when someone cannot afford a real diamond or just simply prefer not to spend the money on diamonds. CZ jewelry has a little less sparkle and brilliance, but has more fire and color. Cubic zirconia CZ stones are durable, brilliant, and beautiful. People often cannot tell the difference between cubic zirconia jewelry and diamond jewelry. Also, a cubic zirconia weighs 75% more than diamonds with the same carat weight. One way to tell the difference between CZs and diamonds is doing a specific gravity test on an un-mounted stone, or marking ink on the top of the stone (the ink beads up on a cubic zirconia), when gem-printed a cubic zirconia photograph's reflective patterns, and when measuring heat conductivity, a cubic zirconia registers red on the indicator (a diamond is green).
Cubic zirconia has a hardness of 8.5 of the Mohs scale of hardness. Cubic zirconia is clear and is brilliant. There are even some cubic zirconias that come in just about every color of the rainbow. |
