The Top 7 Differences Diamond VS Cubic Zirconia
The emergence of substitutes like cubic zirconia (CZ) has made it increasingly difficult to justify spending a significant amount on traditional diamonds. Visually, these gemstones are nearly identical to real diamonds. The production process of cubic zirconia may be more environmentally friendly and does not involve the social and environmental issues associated with diamond mining. Some advocate for choosing cubic zirconia over diamonds to support a more sustainable gemstone option. There's even a growing skepticism about whether the significance of diamonds is merely a commercial hoax. Therefore, there's considerable debate about the differences between cubic zirconia and diamonds and whether one should opt for either. While moissanite, lab-created diamonds, and Nice City are among the most popular diamond alternatives, this article will primarily focus on comparing diamonds and cubic zirconia.
Cubic Zirconia and Diamond - What You Should Know
Diamonds come in two forms, natural and synthetic. In appearance and composition, both are similar. Natural diamonds are mined from the earth's reserves, while synthetic diamonds are produced in laboratories. Both diamonds are similar in most aspects. However, natural diamonds are expensive due to their natural occurrence and rarity. Lab-created diamonds are cheaper and more accessible in the jewelry market.
Cubic zirconia may look like diamonds, but they are entirely lab-made and have little in common with diamonds besides their appearance from a distance. Diamonds are made of carbon, while cubic zirconia is made of zirconium oxide. The debate between cubic zirconia and diamonds will never end because both gemstones have their pros and cons.
However, for cubic zirconia, its benefits lie in being lab-made, without the conflict history or ethical and sustainability issues, and being affordable with a rich variety of styles and shapes. Natural diamonds have some dark issues like blood diamond problems, forced labor, environmental degradation, unfair trade, and other historical issues.
Durability
In terms of durability, diamonds are more durable than cubic zirconia. On the Mohs scale of hardness, diamond has a hardness of 10, while cubic zirconia has a hardness of 8.0 to 8.5. This means that compared to cubic zirconia, diamonds are tougher, can be worn regularly without worrying about damage, fracture, or scratching. Diamonds require less maintenance, while cubic zirconia needs more frequent polishing to maintain its brilliance. When durability is a concern, diamonds will provide more in the long run. At this point, the price of cubic zirconia versus diamonds should be a determining factor.
Color
Considering color, cubic zirconia is lab-made, which means its color can be controlled as needed. On the other hand, diamonds occur more naturally, so obtaining colorless diamonds is not as easy. Such colorless gemstones are both rare and expensive. For diamonds, their color grades range from D (colorless) to Z (yellow).
This doesn't mean there aren't colored cubic zirconia; you'll find them as affordable as the colorless varieties. Colored diamonds are more expensive than colorless or near-colorless diamonds.
Nice City is colorless and visually identical to diamonds. This gemstone looks exactly like a diamond but without the hefty price tag.
Diamond VS Cubic Zirconia :Clarity
When purchasing colorless diamonds, clarity grade is a key factor directly impacting the diamond's value. Diamonds have different clarity grades, ranging from flawless to included.
For diamonds, clarity is a major determinant of price. Undoubtedly, flawless diamonds are more expensive than diamonds with inclusions. Cubic zirconia, being lab-made, is perfect in terms of clarity. This is a major difference buyers should be aware of between cubic zirconia and diamonds.
Dispersion
When a gemstone is said to have fire, it means it can disperse light into different colors of the rainbow. This dispersion makes the stone sparkle in the light. With its dispersion rate of 0.044, diamonds have long been praised for their excellent ability to refract light.
Cubic zirconia has a higher dispersion rate, fixed at 0.066. This gives cubic zirconia a noticeable "rainbow effect" dispersion when exposed to light. This fact is another difference between cubic zirconia and diamonds, though it may not be as apparent when the two gemstones are smaller in size. This difference becomes more pronounced in larger stones.
Some jewelry enthusiasts dislike the flashy colors exhibited by cubic zirconia and other diamond substitutes under light. Not everyone appreciates the vibrant hues displayed by these gemstones. Smaller gemstones have lower color brilliance, which should be considered in such cases.
Refractive Index (RI)
When it comes to cubic zirconia vs. diamonds, their difference in refractive index depends on the angle at which light is incident on either gemstone. As light bends and is reflected, it creates flashes in the stone differently. Cubic zirconia has more colorful flashes, while diamonds have more white flashes.
The refractive index of cubic zirconia is 2.15 – 2.18, while diamonds have a higher refractive index of 2.42. Diamonds have more brilliance than cubic zirconia. The only diamond alternative that comes close is the bright Nice City gemstone.
Diamond VS Cubic Zirconia—Density
The density of cubic zirconia is higher than that of diamonds, making it, on average, heavier than diamonds. Cubic zirconia is heavier than diamonds of the same size.
Value
The advantage of purchasing cubic zirconia lies in its cost, which is much lower than that of diamonds. It is the most affordable diamond alternative. When it comes to the price of cubic zirconia vs. diamonds, you'll find the former to be cheaper.
A 2-carat, excellently cut, flawless, D-color diamond typically sells for about $50,000, while a 2-carat cubic zirconia sells for only about $50! Many jewelry shoppers want to know if cubic zirconia has any real value beyond looking pretty and resembling diamonds.
In fact, in terms of financial and investment value, cubic zirconia is virtually worthless. It has no resale market value and should not be considered an investment in any way.
On the other hand, diamonds are valuable stones that can be seen as an investment (though whether diamonds are an investment is a controversial topic). They can be passed down as heirlooms and indeed can last for generations.
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