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We all want to get the best kind of jewelry added to our collection. When you talk about diamonds, you learn how it is made, the best kinds, and similar stones that can take up the same jaw-dropping effect on people. In this article, you are going to learn about the similarities and differences betweencubic zirconia and diamonds. By the end of this blog, you will likely get the clarity you wish for when choosing between these two.
Everyone could agree when we say that Diamonds are just wondrous things. Whether you have a small stone or a big one, it would always find its way to catch an eye. Diamonds are old – really old. They have been mined for centuries now. Diamonds are precious stones that are made into jewelry. Its nature has made it so strong as it has been naturally created hundreds of miles underneath the earth with extreme heat and pressure.
Mining is damaging mother earth through and through, so people are resorting to a more nature-friendly approach, creating diamonds in a laboratory. The gist is growing a diamond in the same environment as natural diamonds. We have been successfully producing these diamonds. They still don’t come off cheap but cost less than the natural diamond.
A diamond stimulant is how you classify Cubic Zirconia. It is a stone strongly similar to a diamond. However, the material used to make it is zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) rather than carbon, which is used in natural and lab-made diamonds. Diamonds and cubic zirconia both have cubic crystalline forms. It gives off that look-a-like feature of the two. The cubic crystalline is also where the word “cubic” in cubic zirconia.
Getting a basic understanding of diamonds and cubic zirconia is the first step. Now, let’s go over each one’s similar and different factors.
Let’s be honest. Price is the first thing that most people would check on when you want to compare your jewelry, especially if you are trying to follow a specific budget. When it comes to which of the two has a higher cost, it would be the diamond. In diamonds, you pay for the longevity, high-quality crystal, and the craft of producing the style of the stone by the jeweler. Meanwhile, the less expensive choice is cubic zirconia, which is synthetic and mass-produced. Cubic zirconia stones rely on the metal setting. If you plan on getting the cubic zirconia, it's best to invest in a metal setting that you can make sure does not fade easily. It's best not to go for brass,silver, or copper plated withgold or platinum. They can wear away with daily use. Sterling silver or stainless steel is your best option for metal settings. With this, you won't have to worry about chipped-off metal plating and not overspending on the metal setting of cubic zirconia. Check out the metal setting and other jewelry fromGold Presidents for various styles.
The brilliance of the stone is gotten from the cut style it has. You can be able to achieve greater brilliance from round, oval, and pear-shaped stones, compared to other cut styles. Through the cut style, you can tell how much light reflects through the gem to your eyes. It plays a big factor in its brilliance. If we talk about numbers comparing the two, cubic zirconia contains no true brilliance because of its lower refractive index than diamonds. A cubic zirconia has an index between 2.15 – 2.18, while a diamond has an index of 2.42.
Durability is a factor to consider for jewelry pieces you plan to upkeep for a long time. It would always be tempting to get the cheaper one, but you must think whether it could stay forever with you. Or whether the upkeep would be much more expensive than the original price.
Rings like your promise ring, engagement ring, and wedding rings should not just be price-chosen because this is most likely an item you will have to wear for a long time. They must handle the rough wear and tears of our everyday lifestyle.
When it comes to hardness, the diamond ranks ten on the Mohs hardness scale. Meanwhile, the cubic zirconia ranks 8.5 on the hardness scale. It seems to be no hard difference between these gems; however, cubic zirconia, unlike diamonds, is easily scratched from daily use. It also absorbs oil from the skin and other skin products that you might use. It builds up in the jewelry quickly, causing damage. After 2-3 years, cubic zirconia would appear cloudy compared to diamonds.
The color grade is another aspect you would often look into when you want to know more about gemstones. Color is one of the 4Cs of a diamond that you always need to consider when you purchase one. Grading of diamonds goes from colorless (D-F Grade), which is how they are described to be and are rare in the market compared to light color (S-Z grade), which would have a visible hue or tone of a light yellow and light brown. It would be a matter of preference, whether you want to opt for the warmer tone or the colorless one. When it comes to cubic zirconia, the color can be treated with different elements that would result in a rainbow of hues.
Another thing about these two is the clarity between these two gems. When it comes to clarity in diamonds, there are what we call inclusions. These are tiny imperfections we see on diamonds, graded depending on visibility. Gas bubbles can be found in cubic zirconia that contains not melted zirconium dioxide powder, which is a telltale sign of its lab-grown origins since it has no natural internal flaws.
So where do you sit with these two options? Are you convinced about purchasing diamonds or cubic zirconia? Then again, by the end of the day, you should choose where you use your jewelry. Choose wisely!
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