Cubic zirconia jewellery is a popular alternative to authentic gemstones and offer the same dazzling look for a fraction of the cost. However just like real stones, they also vary in terms of quality so it pays to know what characteristics to look for. Some cubic zirconias resemble genuine stones more than others, and using these tips can help make finding a high quality cubic zirconia ring much easier.
If the buyer wants a CZ that looks the most like a real diamond, it's important to look for one which primarily emits white or blue light. Cubic zirconias by default tend to give off flashes of light in the full color spectrum of the rainbow, however there are some which do so less, and these are the ones which are closest in appearance to genuine stones.
As with diamonds, CZ's are also assigned grades based on their overall quality. The top specimens have maximum hardness and reflect a higher degree of white light, and therefore look the closest to real diamonds. These grades start at "A" which is the lowest and go up to "AAAAA" which represents of the finest. The majority of costume pieces feature lower grade stones, but there are some available with higher grade settings as well.
Clarity is the level of transparency the stone has, and as with diamonds, the higher the clarity of a CZ, the better. If one can easily see through to the center of the stone, this is considered ideal, it is not only more attractive to look at, but generally indicative of a stronger stone. Cloudiness or a greyish hue is most often the result of a sub-par manufacturing process.
If a seller is promoting CZ pieces as "synthetic diamonds" it is best to look elsewhere since this is not an accurate description of a Cubic Zirconia. A true synthetic counterpart to a precious stone must have the exact same physical and gemological properties, and this is not the case with a CZ stone.
The hardness of the stone matters as well. Gemstone hardness is measured using the Mohs scale, with a diamond exhibiting maximum hardness with a score of 10. AAAA and AAAAA CZ's generally have a rating of about 8.5 which is also quite good, but those poorer grade ones with a rating of 6 are much more likely to get scratched, especially when worn on the hands.
Cubic zirconias are available in a wide selection of rich colors such as blue, purple, green, and red, which can at first glance bear a resemblance to precious gemstones but the key difference is that these CZ pieces which have a lot more sparkle to them. While lovely in their own sense, CZ is not usually as convincing a replica of colored stones as its simulated counterparts.
Keeping these tips in mind can help one find a high quality cubic zirconia ring that meets his or her expectations. Personal taste also has a great deal of influence on this subjective decision, and it's important to always choose a piece of jewellery that appeals enough to the wearer that he or she will not grow tired of it.
If the buyer wants a CZ that looks the most like a real diamond, it's important to look for one which primarily emits white or blue light. Cubic zirconias by default tend to give off flashes of light in the full color spectrum of the rainbow, however there are some which do so less, and these are the ones which are closest in appearance to genuine stones.
As with diamonds, CZ's are also assigned grades based on their overall quality. The top specimens have maximum hardness and reflect a higher degree of white light, and therefore look the closest to real diamonds. These grades start at "A" which is the lowest and go up to "AAAAA" which represents of the finest. The majority of costume pieces feature lower grade stones, but there are some available with higher grade settings as well.
Clarity is the level of transparency the stone has, and as with diamonds, the higher the clarity of a CZ, the better. If one can easily see through to the center of the stone, this is considered ideal, it is not only more attractive to look at, but generally indicative of a stronger stone. Cloudiness or a greyish hue is most often the result of a sub-par manufacturing process.
If a seller is promoting CZ pieces as "synthetic diamonds" it is best to look elsewhere since this is not an accurate description of a Cubic Zirconia. A true synthetic counterpart to a precious stone must have the exact same physical and gemological properties, and this is not the case with a CZ stone.
The hardness of the stone matters as well. Gemstone hardness is measured using the Mohs scale, with a diamond exhibiting maximum hardness with a score of 10. AAAA and AAAAA CZ's generally have a rating of about 8.5 which is also quite good, but those poorer grade ones with a rating of 6 are much more likely to get scratched, especially when worn on the hands.
Cubic zirconias are available in a wide selection of rich colors such as blue, purple, green, and red, which can at first glance bear a resemblance to precious gemstones but the key difference is that these CZ pieces which have a lot more sparkle to them. While lovely in their own sense, CZ is not usually as convincing a replica of colored stones as its simulated counterparts.
Keeping these tips in mind can help one find a high quality cubic zirconia ring that meets his or her expectations. Personal taste also has a great deal of influence on this subjective decision, and it's important to always choose a piece of jewellery that appeals enough to the wearer that he or she will not grow tired of it.
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