Cubic Zirconia's ~ A Cheaper Alternative to Diamonds

The world grades Cubic Zirconia by hardness (8 - 8.5 on Moh's scale) and weight (aprox 2X's as heavy as a diamond).

Cubic Zirconia stones are cut from crystals grown in a laboratory.

Although Cubic's may look like a real diamond, they are heavier then real diamonds and conduct much less heat.

Cubic Zirconia comes in many different qualities, depending on the grade and purity of the ingredients used, and how much heat and pressure were used when it was created.

How a Cubic Zirconia is made.

Zirconium oxide, the main component in cubic zirconia, is placed in a container formed of water cooled copper pipes. Metallic zirconium is then placed in the center of the powder and melted using high frequency radio waves. This in turn causes the zirconium oxide powder to melt from the center outward (like a microwave heats food). As this mixture cools, the cubic zirconia crystallizes. Different manufactures use slightly different mixtures of ingredients, and different cooling times to create their own specials brands of cubic zirconia.

Although cubic zirconia jewelry is often made using stones that are machine cut and have been laboratory-made, there are various grades based on cut, color and clarity.

Moh's scale of hardness classifies cubic zirconia as 8-8.5. This hardness allows for frequent wear of your cubic zirconia jewelry and cleaning using gem cleaner. Regular cleaning will maintain the brilliant shine that resembles the fire of a diamond.

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