subject: An Amazing Crystal Called Cubic Zirconia [print this page] Cubic Zirconia is mans answer to natural diamonds. It is a laboratory grown cubic crystal of the compound zirconium dioxide. Cubic zirconia, or CZ, has amazing characteristics which put it at par with a real diamond in qualities, appearance and utility. It is a crystal of high hardness and fire. Since it is artificially manufactured on commercial scale around the world, it is quite inexpensive, yet has all the qualities of a diamond and is free from any kind of imperfection or flaw that a real diamond may have, hence making it even more perfect. On the scale of hardness, Cubic zirconia is rated at a respectable 8.5 as against 10 of a real diamond. But when it comes to withstanding heat, CZ can bear temperatures up to 2540 degrees Celsius without getting destroyed whereas the flame of a candle is all it takes to turn a real diamond to pure ashes in almost no time at all. Cubic zirconia also allows greater flexibility and opportunity to jewel cutters and to make perfect cut by high precision tools and lasers, as it is artificially manufactured and perfectly symmetrical. It is totally transparent, whether colored or colorless and optically flawless. Real diamonds, however, have none of these qualities. They are rarely symmetrical and it takes highly skilled craftsmen to cut them to reasonable symmetry and shape. Diamonds, unlike CZ, contain impurities in the form of coloration in shades which constitute opaque spots, thus making the diamond not so transparent. So alike are CZ and diamonds in appearance that it needs a magnifying glass or a loupe and an expert eye to tell them apart. To the naked eye and novices, there is practically no difference between a CZ and a top quality diamond. Another edge that Cubic zirconia has over real diamonds is that it can be manufactured in any imaginable color and shape to suit a particular requirement or with a particular design in mind, whereas such a liberty with diamonds is unheard of. Jewelry designers spend years just trying to collect the diamonds that fit in their design, whereas with Cubic zirconia, all u have to do is order.
