Is Cubic Zirconia Good for Blinging up Your Jewelry?
By surprise cubic zirconia (CZ) is becoming the BFF of everyone in the jewelry game. Sellers are starting to hide away those expensive diamonds. But is cubic zirconia really up to the competition and what’s the deal with it?
To put it simply, CZ is like a diamond's cool fake sibling. You know what makes diamonds so unique? It’s their structure. Well CZ has a neat, uniform arrangement of atoms too. That’s also why you should prepare to hear your friends say “FAKE” from a distance.
But here’s where CZ really shines: clarity. This thing can be so pure and flawless that it’s basically blinding. That's why people turn to cubic zirconia when they want all the glitz and glamor of a diamond without needing to trade one of their organs for it.
So, How Do They Make These Things?
This is where science comes in. To make cubic zirconia requires carefully choreographed moves by someone who could easily pass as a lab-coated chef. Their ingredients include crystals made from zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) in an environment that they can control.
Those ingredients are then mixed with one of two stabilizers: calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. They need to mix them just right in order to get that perfect blend.
Lastly, they throw this mixture into a super-hot furnace either using electricity or a fancy skull-melting furnace but this ensures everything melds together perfectly.
Once that’s done, they put in tiny seed crystals (like small cubic zirconia cheerleaders) into the molten mix to start making a new crystal.
In the next step, they gradually lower the temperature in the mix to let these crystals grow. It’s like taking care of a plant, but with more sparkle. The last part of this is controlling the temperature and cooling rate to get them looking amazing.
Lastly, they cut, shape, and polish these cubic zirconia crystals into cool gemstones. Sometimes they add a super thin layer of titanium or aluminum for some durability and scratch resistance.
Why You Should Consider Cubic Zirconia for Your Jewelry
Well cubic zirconia packs a lot of benefits. See below.
1. Doesn’t Break the Bank
Cubic zirconia is a budget-friendly gemstone. It’s not as expensive as diamonds and can still rock your jewelry. So if you want to wear fancy stuff without selling your kidney, CZ is the move.
2. It’s Tough
It has a hardness rating of 8.5 on Mohs scale. Diamonds, which are hard to beat, come in at a perfect 10
This means that it can handle everyday life quite easily. It won’t get scratched or chip under pressure. Perfect for jewelry that’s meant to survive time like engagement rings, earrings and bracelets.
3. Sparkle
You’ll notice that they sparkle a little more than diamonds because it has a higher refractive index.
The dazzling brilliance of cubic zirconia makes it look better than you think.
Fact: The limelight will be stolen by your CZ pieces so you won’t need spotlights.
4. Ethical all the way
When buying diamonds it’s important to make an ethical choice. While they can be shiny and breathtaking, they’re sometimes tied to things that aren't so sparkly. In certain mining areas there are environmental issues and conflicts.
So, here’s a good alternative: cubic zirconia. It might not have the same shine as a diamond, but you won’t have to worry about shady business and environmental impacts when getting it. You can find CZ created in controlled environments.
In Summary
Jewelry lovers unite! For anyone who loves bling, it’s important to know where your jewelry is coming from. Pay attention to the sellers you buy from and check for red flags, read customer reviews and go through their catalog.
CZ is an ethical option that doesn't come with a high price tag. It doesn’t even drain your bank account like other alternatives would. And don’t think you’ll lose any sparkle because of this either. To this day CZ remains one of the top choices for anyone who wants stunning jewelry without feeling guilty about overspending later on.
