A Brief Guide to Cubic Zirconia Jewelry

What Is Cubic Zirconia and Why Buy It?

Cubic zirconia stones (or CZ stones) are man-made gemstones that look very similar to diamonds.

If you want a luxury look but don't want to break the bank, cubic zirconia jewelry is perfect. This is because these stones produce a fantastic shine at a fraction of what a diamond costs.

A fact that most people don't know is that if a cubic zirconia stone is high quality, the stone has no imperfections. In other words, the stone is flawless. This is opposed to diamonds that almost always have tiny imperfections in them.

Source: https://www.sneharateria.com/blogs/news/moissanite-vs-diamond-vs-cubic-zirconia

How Are Cubic Zirconia Stones Made?

Cubic zirconia stones are made by melting together the element zirconium and the mineral zirconium oxide at very high temperatures. The mixture is then allowed to cool off so the crystals can form. Lastly, the stones are cut to their desired shape and polished.

Quality Levels of Cubic Zirconia

When purchasing jewelry with cubic zirconia stones, it's important to know the quality of the stones. This is because lower quality stones are more cloudy and are softer while higher quality stones are more clear and hard.

The ranking goes like this:

• AAAAA (highest quality)
• AAAA
• AAA
• AA
• A
• AB (lowest quality)

Stones that are higher quality are harder, last longer, and produce a dancing shine that's very similar to diamonds.

How Long Does Cubic Zirconia Last?

Cubic zirconia jewelry can last up to 5 years with proper care. This is because the natural oils from our skin and chemicals such as chlorine, lotion, and soap cause the stones lose their shine.

Therefore, it's important to regularly clean your cubic zirconia jewelry with a soft microfiber cloth to keep these chemicals from eroding the stones' shine.

But just because cubic zirconia jewelry doesn't last forever doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it. I mean, we upgrade our $1,000 phones every few years because those end up not working as well too.

The bottom line is, if you properly care for your jewelry, you'll receive great value out of it for many years.

To Sum Up

Jewelry made with cubic zirconia stones is a great option for a luxury look without breaking the bank. CZ stones produce a luxurious shine at a fraction of what diamonds cost.

And when looking for cubic zirconia jewelry, look at the stone quality and only purchase jewelry with high-quality stones. This will give you the most shine for your buck.