Diamond Or Cubic Zirconia Rings?

Posted by Pocket Watch Guide on December 28, 2009 | Subscribe
in Jewelry, Rings, Uncategorized
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First in order to decide which is better diamond or cubic zirconia rings we first must discuss what the two are and what they two are not.

First let us define what cubic zirconia is: according to Wikipedia: “Cubic zirconia (or CZ) is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors. It should not be confused with zircon, which is a zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4). It is sometimes erroneously called “cubic zirconium”.”

Now let us define what diamond is: according to Dictionary.com: “a pure or nearly pure, extremely hard form of carbon naturally crystallized in the isometric system.”

So what are some of the main differences in the two?

While to the untrained eye cubic zirconia rings and diamond rings will look almost exactly the same but when you take a closer look you will see:

The first and most obvious difference between the two types of gemstones is the color: in cubic zirconia there is rarely any color unless it is put their intentionally to imitate a certain type of gemstone such pink in rose quartz. Diamonds on the other hand are always going to have at least some kind of color whether it is a slight yellow or brown. Only the very rarest of diamonds is truly colorless, and for this reason if you see a huge clear gemstone on a ring and it cost two hundred dollars, then it is most likely a cubic zirconia engagement ring not a diamond one. (Cubic zirconia engagement rings and the cubic zirconia wedding ring are among some of the most popular today because of their clarity and price).

A couple of other ways to spot the fake from the real:

-The C.Z. test: a clear indication that the gemstone is not real is will be the c.z. stamped on inside of the ring. Adversely if it has any other kind of stamping such as 585,10k or PT then it is probably real.

-The scratch test: a diamond can scratch glass; MOST cubic zirconias cannot scratch glass some can though. * This can damage your diamond * do this test only as a last result.

-The breath test: breathe on the diamond like you would on a pair of glasses, if the stone stays foggy then it is a cubic zirconia ring, if it clears up fast then it may be real.*before doing this test clean the stone really well (warm water and dish soap will usually do the trick, and for really stubborn grim use some “windex” or other ammonia based window cleaner solution.)

-The word test: this test can be done with some rings. While holding the ring up next to a book or computer screen see if you can clearly read the letters through it. If you can then it might not be a diamond.

-The weight test- cubic zirconia weighs 1.7vas much as diamonds of the same size.

-The black light test: this test can give you an idea of the quality of your stone as well as tell you if it is a diamond or cubic zirconia. If it does not have a blue hue then most likely it is not the real thing as almost all fakes do not have a blue hue. * Special note* some diamonds as well do not have a blue hue this is an indication that they are of higher quality.

-The magnifying glass test- this is a test that will show you a multitude of things about your stone. For starters if the stone seems to be a little foggy it’s probably a diamond. If the lines/cuts on top of the diamond or facets are sharp clean lines then it is probably real. Cubic zirconia have rounded or rolled lines. If the stone appears cloudy has any crakes,chips then it is more than likely the real thing.

Other tests that are on the microscopic level:

-“The Thermal conductivity test: Cubic zirconias are thermal insulators while diamonds are among the most efficient thermal conductors, exceeding copper. This makes telling the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia quite easy for those with the right instruments.

-The Cut test: Some cubic zirconias use different facet shapes than are typically used for diamonds. This difference would be visible under close inspection with a loupe(customized microscope to fit to see gemstones and other small objects).

-The Refractive index test: Cubic zirconia refractive index of 2.176, diamond refractive index of 2.417.

-The Mohs test- Hardness: Cubic zirconia 8:diamond 10 on the Mohs hardness scale.

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