Did you know that diamonds are at least 58x harder than any other substance found in nature?
That hardness earns this substance a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Cubic zirconia diamonds, on the other hand, rate an 8 to 8.5 – and this is only the beginning of the differences between CZ vs diamond.
When you’re seeking a sparkling gemstone ring for a gift, an engagement, or a special occasion, both CZ and lab grown diamonds are beautiful and bright. But that’s where their similarities end – you can check out more information about how lab grown diamonds differ here.
Before you start sizing your band, read this to make sure you’re getting what you pay for.
What Is Diamond vs CZ?
There’s a difference between zirconium and cubic zirconium. Zirconium is a silver-white metal that can be found in a powder form. Powdered zirconium is melted and mixed with zirconium oxide at 4,982-degrees Fahrenheit to create cubic zirconia crystals.
CZ crystals, or what we might call CZ diamonds, are an affordable diamond substitute. CZ diamonds are man-made in a laboratory whereas diamonds are naturally-occurring, rare, and expensive gemstones.
How to Tell the Difference Between CZ vs Diamond
To the naked eye, CZ vs diamond look and feel the same. But there are a few ways to tell the difference between the two.
The Heat Test
CZ diamonds are thermal insulators. Diamonds, on the other hand, conduct heat.
Although you can’t exactly see this, there’s a way to test for it. To do so, breath on each stone. On a diamond, your breath will vanish immediately because of the higher thermal conductivity.
Density Differences
CZ diamonds are nearly twice as heavy as real diamonds. At 1.7 times the weight of a diamond, a CZ stone will feel noticeably heavier than a diamond of the same size.
Beauty & Brilliance
Diamonds have a much higher refractive index (2.42) than CZ diamonds (2.15-2.18). This means that light passes through CZ vs diamond in different ways. And this is a measure of the brilliance and beauty of the stones – with diamonds being much more brilliant than CZ.
You can test this by turning the stones upside down and looking at the colors in the stone when light enters. A diamond will produce a rainbow of color reflections. A CZ diamond will only produce a range of blues and oranges.
Clarity & Rarity
Flawless diamonds are incredibly rare. That rarity is what makes them so expensive. If you’ve found a flawless diamond at an unbelievable cost, it’s probably a CZ diamond.
CZ diamonds are made in a laboratory and are therefore flawless and clear. They don’t have the same imperfections that would occur in nature. Meaning they’re not only clear and flawless, but they’re also colorless.
Check Your Costs
CZ vs diamond costs are drastically different. Because they can be produced in a laboratory, CZ diamonds are significantly more affordable than a real diamond gemstone, but on the other hand it’s much easier to sell natural diamonds.
Whether you’re looking for princess cut or art deco diamond engagement rings, CZ diamonds are always the more affordable option.
Stay Fashionably Informed
Besides the cost, the major differences between CZ vs diamond can be found in how they’re made. Flawless and colorless, CZ diamonds are made in a laboratory and lack the natural imperfections of a real diamond. Though, because they’re not as hard, they wear more than a real diamond will over time.
When wearing your fashion and jewelry isn’t enough, stay fashionably informed with us. Check out all things fashion here.