From a value standpoint, cubic zirconia is worth next to nothing. 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.
"A cubic zirconia is typically less than $30 per 'carat. '"
Value: Probably the best thing about CZ is that it is much more affordable than diamonds. A 1-carat excellent cut, flawless, D color diamond generally retails for about $10,000 while a 1-carat cubic zirconia will only set you back about $20!
While these stones may look somewhat similar, their composition is very different. A diamond is the hardest stone known to man while a cubic zirconia has a much lower rating of hardness. This is because diamonds are made of compressed carbon atoms, which lends to their brilliance and their remarkable hardness.
Price difference
That is because CZ is a synthetic crystal, whereas man-made diamonds are real diamonds. CZ too, can be of exceptionally high quality, which will increase its price. The price of CZ is determined by its carat weight.
From a value standpoint, cubic zirconia is worth next to nothing. 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.
Does Cubic Zirconia Shine Like a Diamond? No, cubic zirconia does not shine with the same brilliance as a diamond. Diamonds shine with pure white light, while CZ diamonds give off rainbow colors. They are also more prone to becoming dull and scratched over time, and are thus not the best option for daily wear.
Can CZ pass a diamond tester? No. Cubic Zirconia (or CZ) does not have high enough thermal conductivity to pass. So, when you test a CZ with a diamond tester, it will not show as diamond.
Cubic zirconia is a popular diamond alternative. It's affordable, conflict-free, and looks just like a real diamond. The drawbacks are the lack of durability-with daily use, it will lose its shine and sparkle within a few years.
Does cubic zirconia look cheap? People will not be able to tell that a cubic zirconia ring is not a diamond. Especially if the CZ is in a nice gold setting, it will not look cheap. Usually, it's a cheaper, low quality setting that makes the ring look cheap, not the CZ.
There are limited places where you can sell a cubic zirconia stone. Your best options are to sell to pawn shops or privately. However, when it comes to diamonds, there are a plethora of buyers.
In other words, a 1 carat Round Cut Cubic Zirconia diamond equivalent is 6.5 mm. When you're shopping for jewelry on CubicZirconia.com, know that we use carat-equivalent sizes.
Place the gemstones in a glass of water and watch. If it floats, then it is probably a fake stone. Real diamonds will sink to the bottom of the glass, while cubic zirconia will float to the surface.
Unlike cubic zirconia, Swarovski crystals can only be cut in a small number of specific ways and are much softer. They don't reflect the light well and only score a 1.5 rating on the refraction index so there's no comparison with cubic zirconia and Swarovski crystals have indeed fallen out of fashion.
If you visit any jewellery shop and find it difficult to differentiate between these stones, you should observe them in the brightest light. You will see that the diamond has white or silvery sparkles only. However, cubic zirconia will give out colourful sparkles such as red, yellow or blue.
Cubic zirconia is a gemstone that is produced to be a diamond simulant (a stone that looks exactly like a diamond but isn't one). It's sometimes called CZ for short. While naturally occurring cubic zirconia has been discovered, it is extremely rare.
So, what's the bottom line? If you're wondering if cubic zirconia is good, then the answer is yes. It is strong, durable, looks great, and is high quality. It is excellent value for money.
Pros of Cubic Zirconia
As another example, a 1.5 Carat Princess Cut cubic zirconia ring can retail for $37, whereas a 1.4 Carat princess cut engagement ring (with excellent Clarity, Cut and Color) costs $9,815.”
While Hordern notes that a mild washing-up liquid is safe for cubic zirconia, she advises against cleaners that are more abrasive. "Avoid using 'dip' polish or abrasive jewelry cleaners as these contain harsh chemicals and can destroy your jewelry over time," she says.
Water: Some water is OK and can cause no problems in your jewelry after years of exposure. Repeated exposure over time to other water can ruin gold, sterling silver and both real and artificial gemstones (including our 5A cubic zirconia stones).
Lab-grown diamonds, like natural ones, have very sharp facet edges, while cubic zirconia has more rounded edges, which become even more rounded with time, making the stone look foggy.
Here, the moissanite is the clear winner. Mineral hardness is judged by the Mohs scale. At the very top of the scale is diamond, which is a perfect 10. However, moissanite comes in quite close at 9.25.
Moissanite Arguably the best faux diamond in existence, moissanite comprises silicon carbide, which means it is almost of the same hardness as a natural diamond. It also has reasonable colorlessness, although the glow is far more colorful than what you would see in a real diamond.
Simulated diamonds are also known as diamond simulants and include things like cubic zirconia (CZ), moissanite, and YAG. They can also include some natural clear gemstones like white sapphire, white zircon or even clear quartz.