Cubic Zirconia (CZ)
Cubic zirconia, also known as CZ or Diamonique, is one of the many modern stones that began life as a diamond substitute (simulant) but is now being marketed as a desirable gemstone in its own right.These days we increasingly hear cz stones described as "genuine cubic zirconia" rather than "artificial diamond". CZ is used in all forms of jewellery, from engagement rings and wedding sets to earrings, studs, necklaces and belly rings. It provides an attractive and much more affordable alternative to the traditional diamond, especially for those who want to buy a sparkling engagement ring without spending a fortune.
Cubic zirconia stones are often paired with a yellow or white gold setting, however as with diamonds they will go with almost anything.
What Is Cubic Zirconia?
Cubic zirconia is a man-made lab created crystal that resembles natural diamond closely when viewed at a distance. The word "cubic" refers to its internal structure rather than its outward appearance and you can buy CZ in just about any shape.As with diamonds, cz stones are usually clear ("white") but you can also buy them in a variety of colours and hues including pink, canary yellow and even black.
CZ should not be confused with the naturally occuring zircon.
Diamonique
So what is Diamonique? Well that's just another name for cubic zirconia. Diamonique is the name used by shopping channel QVC for its range of CZ jewelry. At the time of writing this includes designs from Tacori, Hidalgo, Joseph Esposito, Verragio and Judith Ripka.
Properties
Cubic Zirconia vs Diamond
A CZ crystal is significantly heavier than a natural diamond of the same size and shape. As with natural diamond, cz is usually colourless but can be produced in a variety of hues if required. Although a fairly hard stone cz not as hard as true diamond and needs to be treated with respect.Cubic zirconia generally has slightly less fire and brilliance than diamond. CZ stones are sometimes coated in "diamond like carbon" (DLC) to further improve their optical qualities and make them look even more like real diamonds.
It can be difficult for a lay person to distinguish between cubic zirconia and diamond, especially from a distance. If you're not sure about the nature of a stone then you should contact a professional for an appraisal.
Cubic zirconia provides a way of getting a diamond lookalike stone at an affordable price, a very attractive option for many people.