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Can you tell a natural diamond from a man-made cubic zirconia
(CZ)? Probably not, that is unless you’re a professional
gemologist. You need to remember that although you may
not spot the difference, your life long partner will know.
The look of CZ is deceptively identical to a real diamond.
In fact, it’s
not uncommon for CZ
engagement rings to be sold or presented as natural
diamond engagement rings.
If CZ engagement rings are practically identical to (and some say just as good as) natural diamond rings, why didn’t they become available sooner? Because, compared to diamonds, cubic zirconia is a new invention.
The Beginning of CZ jewelry
CZ engagement rings couldn’t exist without cubic
zirconia, a rare mineral produced naturally in
much the same way as diamonds. German mineralogists
discovered the mineral in 1937. The similarities between
CZ and diamonds were apparent, but since the mineral
was so rare, it couldn’t compete with diamonds.
It wasn’t
until the late-1970s that Russian scientists learned
to reproduce CZ in a laboratory setting, thereby making
it widely available for use in jewelry.
The popularity of CZ took the jewelry world by storm. Jewelry manufactures seized the opportunity to sell the imitation diamond to those unable to afford the real thing. Many consumers, desiring the diamond look without the price tag, welcomed the availability of CZ. Soon, everything from CZ engagement rings to CZ bracelets and earrings were on the market.
CZ Engagement Rings Compared to Diamond Engagement Rings
It’s difficult for untrained eyes to spot differences between CZ engagement rings and diamond engagement rings. There are features that set CZ engagement rings apart from natural diamond rings, but it usually takes a microscope to observe them. Judge for yourself how CZ engagement rings measure-up against natural diamond rings:
- Like real diamond engagement rings, CZ engagement rings
are available in a variety of colors. But what if you
want a perfectly colorless diamond in your engagement
ring? Well, you may have a difficult time since most
diamonds have small amounts of color. But that’s
not the case with CZ. Perfectly colorless CZ engagement
rings are
readily available because they can be created that way.
- CZ engagement rings are more delicate than diamond engagement
rings. It’s not because CZ engagement rings are
badly made, but CZ is softer than diamond. CZ has a hardness
rating of 8.3 compared to 10 for diamond. So if you try
to cut glass with a diamond, and the diamond breaks,
then it’s not a real diamond. This also means that
CZ will scratch and become dull over a period of time.
It is just not hard enough to withstand every day wear
and tear.
- CZ engagement rings are flawless because they are man
made. Cracks, hairlines, feathers, etc... are all foreign
to CZ engagement rings. But if you examine even the most
expensive diamond engagement rings, inclusions will appear
in some or all of them because a diamond is a naturally
occuring gemstone.
As you can see, the differences between CZ
engagement rings and diamond engagement rings appear
to be barely noticeable. You should remember that a
CZ stone will wear, scratch and become dull quickly
because it is not very hard. It will almost certainly
need to be replaced at some time. A real diamond however,
will have intrinsic value because it is natural, somewhat
rare and, in our society, valued as an eternal symbol
of love. Your preference for one or the other depends
on how you feel about imitation diamonds. At Novori
Jewelry we never sell CZ and want you to have the very
best natural diamod for your engagement proposal. If
natural diamonds are your preference, feel free to
search our website. Call us and we can help you find
the perfect diamond that she will love and that fits
within your diamond jewelry budget. We’re
sure you’ll
find an affordable diamond to fit within your budget
at Novori.
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