If you were to try and resell a cubic zirconia engagement ring, you could perhaps retain some value for the setting. The cubic zirconia gemstone—just like other diamond simulants —carries no market value. Unlike cubic zirconia, though, diamonds can also be passed down for generations as a family heirloom and keepsake.
Diamonds carry a certain prestige because they are stunning, natural gemstones with a timeless appearance. These elements work together to form the beauty and brilliance of the stone. In this case, a lower price does not mean a better value or deal. The best way to tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond is to look at the stones under natural light: a diamond gives off more white light brilliance while a cubic zirconia gives off a noticeable rainbow of colored light excessive light dispersion.
The excess light dispersion is a key sign that the stone is not a diamond. There are several other ways to tell the difference between diamonds and cubic zirconia, including looking at their physical, chemical and, visual properties. Knowing the differences will help you make the best decision when designing and purchasing jewelry.
White light reflection is referred to as brilliance and colored light reflection is called fire. Cubic zirconia contains no true brilliance or fire. It has a much lower refractive index—between 2. Light passes through cubic zirconia much differently—offering significantly less reflection back to the eye.
By simply looking at the two gemstones under a light, you can tell the immense difference in light reflection. This stunning 0. Cubic zirconia also has a higher dispersion rate between 0. The excess dispersion of light makes it easy to spot as a fake diamond. As the hardest naturally-occurring mineral in the world, diamonds rate a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
Diamonds are incredibly durable and resilient—making them ideal for engagement rings and everyday wear. Diamonds maintain their sparkle and beauty with minimal maintenance. Cubic zirconia, on the other hand, ranks an 8.
It can be worn in jewelry, but will certainly not have the longevity of a diamond. For example, cubic zirconia becomes scratched and cloudy over time. Cubic zirconia is also slightly denser than diamonds. A jeweler or gemologist can easily distinguish a CZ stone from a diamond by weighing it on their scale. Cubic zirconia can cut glass or scratch it, just like a diamond can.
Both faux diamonds and real diamonds can scratch the surface. Because cubic zirconia is made in a lab, it lacks the natural imperfections that diamonds have. A flawless diamond is incredibly rare and, thus, incredibly expensive. When it comes to Diamond Color, we recommend finding a diamond that appears white in relation to its setting. Based on your Diamond Shape and the type of setting , we generally recommend looking for a diamond in the G to I range, like this stunning Princess Cut halo ring from James Allen.
Cubic zirconia is a real, man-made gemstone. But cubic zirconia should not be considered a diamond under any scenario by both experts and non-experts. For many reasons—from chemical properties to brilliance and color—the two stones are entirely different.
Diamonds are naturally found, formed of the hardest material, and possess extraordinary beauty. Cubic zirconia is lab-created. The stones lack brilliance and lasting beauty. This is your quick way to tell which one you are working with, except for the price tag of course, wink wink. Diamonds are classified by color. The grading scale starts at D and ends at Z.
The D colored diamonds are clear. The Z colored diamonds, on the other hand, are yellow. The more lack of color, the more valuable the stone. Colorless diamonds are the most valuable stones in the world.
The reason they have functioned as affordable substitutes for diamonds is that it can look like a D-colored diamonds. While cubic zirconia can be manufactured in colors, they are more commonly colorless. The difference is in the way the two reflect light. Clarity is another characteristic that sets diamonds and cubic zirconia apart. Because of that, they often have flaws.
Of ones that are of gemstone quality, there are still many that have imperfections, which are called inclusions, meaning the diamond includes tracing of other elements, which take away the clarity. The lowest clarity grade of a diamond is Included, the highest Flawless. If you are looking for great clarity, that desire may drive you toward Zirconia. Then again, flaws can make people endearing, and one might look at jewel stones the same way. Dispersion is the way light is reflected by an object: light hits an object—a diamond, for example— and is then split into different little bits of the color spectrum.
These are, of course, what split the light into different fragments. This is an area in which zirconia outshines diamonds—see what we did there? The difference in dispersion level between diamonds and cubic zirconia is more obvious in larger carat sizes. This refers to the depth of their sparkle or brightness, and not different colors.
The technical word for measuring brilliance is refraction or the refractive index. Diamonds have a refractive index of 2. On the other hand, cubic zirconia is at 2. This means that diamonds are brighter than cubic zirconia, but not by a large amount.
As the carat size increases the cost difference between cubic zirconia and diamond grows even larger. Check this diamond price calculator here.
For one thing, they can be a wise choice for travel. Are you on a shopping spree in New York City? Perhaps you are enjoying a mimosa by an infinity pool. Show it off! It is just as beautiful. Diamonds and cubic zirconia cz stones look similar. However, they are very different. There are several major characteristics that set them apart.
These are the origins, hardness, color, clarity, dispersion, brilliance, and value. See if your piece sinks to identify a diamond. Drop your loose stone into the glass. If the stone floats, it is most likely cubic zirconia.
If it sinks, it is most likely a diamond, since diamonds are denser than water. This test will not work if your stone is set in a piece of jewelry. Test for opaqueness to identify a diamond. Draw a black line with a permanent marker on a piece of white paper. Set your piece over the line. If you can see through your piece to the line underneath, it is most likely cubic zirconia. Watch out for scratches or chips over time that may indicate cubic zirconia.
Diamonds are very durable and are not prone to scratches. If your piece is scratched or cloudy after a few years of use, it is most likely cubic zirconia. If it has any chips or gouges in it, it is also most likely cubic zirconia.
Method 2. Place the stone under a UV light to see if it glows blue to find a diamond. Set your stone or jewelry piece under a UV light. If the piece glows blue, it is most likely a real diamond.
If it does not glow at all, it could be cubic zirconia. Some diamonds do not glow under UV light, so this is not a definitive test.
Look for a flawless piece to spot cubic zirconia. Cubic zirconia is created artificially in a lab, so the creators can control how many spots, lines, or imperfections it has. If the piece does have some flaws, it is most likely a diamond.
Use a microscope or a magnifying glass to look at your piece up close. Examine the edges to see if they are smooth to indicate cubic zirconia. The flat, geometric surfaces, or facets, of your piece will be much rounder and smoother if it is cubic zirconia. Diamonds have sharp, hard facets. Weigh the jewelry to see if it is heavier than a diamond of the same size. Diamonds and cubic zirconia may look similar, but cubic zirconia weighs almost twice as much as a diamond of the same size and proportions.
Use a small scale or hold 2 items of jewelry in your hand to compare the weights. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Nicole Wegman.
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