brilliant or Cubic Zirconia - Knowing the inequity Can Save You Money!

So what is the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia? Why is cubic zirconia (Cz) quickly becoming more popular as a desirable substitute for diamond? Gemologists can agree that Cz comes closer than any other gem material to matching the characteristics of a diamond.

Most people, even trained gemologists, cannot tell the difference between diamond and Cz, with the naked eye. Moreover, to the untrained eye, Cz looks same to a good capability diamond. However, under closer inspection, Cz appears to have slightly less brilliance (or sparkle) than a diamond, and more fire, or flashes of color.

Czs were originally advanced by the Russians, for their space program. They were advanced as an alternative to diamonds that were used in the optics of their lasers. Czs have a refractive index, dispersion and hardness so close to a diamond it's uncanny.

brilliant or Cubic Zirconia - Knowing the inequity Can Save You Money!

So what are some key features that can guide you in telling the difference between diamond and Cz? Do keep in mind, though, in order to accurately distinguish the two gems, gemological tool such as microscope, or loupe, must be used for testing and verification.

To start, let's take a look at the hardness factor: Did you know Cz ranges between 8.5 to 9.0 on the Mohs' hardness scale whereas diamond, one of the hardest materials known to man, is rated 10, lying at the top of the hardness scale?

Furthermore, glass (or sand) is rated almost 5 to 6 on the hardness scale, therefore, dust and dirt will not scratch Cz. Indeed, Cz can scratch glass just like regular diamonds, manufacture it more unyielding to chipping.

One great difference between diamond and Cz is weight. Czs are heavyweights in comparison to diamonds; a Cz will weigh almost 1.75 times more than a diamond of equivalent size. So basically, a piece of Cz the same size as a one-carat diamond weighs about 1.75 carats. Well...isn't that interesting?

Contemporary production of Cz is virtually flawless, whereas diamond normally contains impurities and inclusions, or have some sort of defect, be it a feather, included crystal, or maybe a remnant of an traditional crystal face (e.g. Trigons).

In regards to color--more precisely, the lack of color--only the rarest of diamonds are truly colorless, as most have a tinge of yellow or brown to some extent. By comparison, Cz in most cases can be made entirely colorless, equivalent to a perfect "D" on diamond's color grading scale.

Also, under close inspection with a loupe, the facet shapes of some Czs appear distinct from diamonds. Both gems disperse light a slight differently. Dispersion is just a scientific term for the breaking up of light into its spectral colors. With a dispersive power greater than diamond (0.060 vs. 0.044), the more prismatic fire of Cz can be seen by even an untrained eye.

Dispersion occurs based on the gem's refractive index. In this case, refractive index simply indicates how much a beam of light will bend, based on the direction in which it is traveling when it passes between two materials of distinct optic densities (such as between diamond and air; or between Cz and air). Being that Cz has a refractive index of 2.176, compared to a diamond's 2.417, diamonds are therefore said to be brighter than Cz.

Another difference between the two gems is that Czs are thermal insulators--meaning, they reduce the rate of heat transfer--whilst diamonds are among the most sufficient thermal conductors--meaning, they allow heat to categorically pass straight through them. Without testing the gems' heat conductivity, it can be difficult to tell them apart.

Remember, it is a 50/50 guess to identify a gem by optic inspection; it is not a scientific formula of authentication. That is why even certified and degreed gemologists use gemological tool for testing and verification.

You will also be glad to know that Czs are not only durable and inexpensive, but just like diamonds, they come in any color of the rainbow, manufacture them even more desirable.

There have been many instances to see if jewelers can tell the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia, just by examining the gems with the naked eye. Over and over again, it was inconclusive; jewelers could not tell the difference just by finding at the gems. So you can now understand why the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia rests in the price, and in the mind...

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