Cubic Zirconia Characteristics

Cubic Zircon

Mohs hardness scale: 8.5

ORIGIN

Cubic zirconia is abbreviated as CZ, which stands for the English term “cubic zirconia.”

It is not zircon of natural origin, but rather a laboratory-produced material—that is, a cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide.

It is the most widely used and successful diamond imitation, which entered the jewelry market in 1976, when 60 million carats of cubic zirconia were produced annually.

The first cubic zirconia crystals that could be faceted were produced in Moscow in 1969.

There are several methods for producing zirconia.

Cubic zirconia is produced from a mixture of high-purity zirconia powder stabilized with magnesium and calcium. There are three production methods: by melting, by solution, or by applying extremely high pressure and high temperature.

CZ vs. DIAMOND

Cubic zirconia has earned this name because it has the same cubic structure as a diamond.

Compared to a diamond, cubic zirconia has less brilliance but more colored sparkle, i.e., dispersion (also known as “fire” in English).

A natural diamond, as well as a lab-grown diamond, contains inclusions, whereas cubic zirconia

does not contain them in the form of another mineral, but rather in the form of a small gas bubble.

Currently, moissanite is a major competitor to cubic zirconia.

COLOR

Cubic zirconia comes in almost every color; it is readily available and inexpensive. That is why it is a very popular alternative to diamonds in the jewelry industry.

Cubic zirconia is hard, but not very hard. This means that it scratches easily and also absorbs oils from the skin and everyday products, which is why even the brightest cubic zirconia looks dull and cloudy after a few years. It lasts at least 2 years.

APPLICATIONS

Cubic zirconia is primarily used in the jewelry industry as an inexpensive substitute for diamonds. In industry, it is used in the manufacture of optical devices, lasers, surgical scalpels, and as a construction material.