CZ Engagement Rings: As Good as the Real Thing?

View our engagement rings here.

Can you tell a natural diamond from a man-made cubic zirconia (CZ)? Probably not, that is unless you’re a professional gemologist. You need to remember that although you may not spot the difference, your life long partner will know. The look of CZ is deceptively identical to a real diamond. In fact, it’s not uncommon for CZ engagement rings to be sold or presented as natural diamond engagement rings.

If CZ engagement rings are practically identical to (and some say just as good as) natural diamond rings, why didn’t they become available sooner? Because, compared to diamonds, cubic zirconia is a new invention.

The Beginning of CZ jewelry

CZ engagement rings couldn’t exist without cubic zirconia, a rare mineral produced naturally in much the same way as diamonds. German mineralogists discovered the mineral in 1937. The similarities between CZ and diamonds were apparent, but since the mineral was so rare, it couldn’t compete with diamonds. It wasn’t until the late-1970s that Russian scientists learned to reproduce CZ in a laboratory setting, thereby making it widely available for use in jewelry.

White Gold Setting with Princess Diamond Accents	White Gold Pave Diamond Engagement Setting	White Gold Common-prong Diamond Engagement Setting	White Gold Sareen Pave Setting
White Gold Baguette and Round Diamond Engagement Setting	White Gold Common Prong Matching Set	White Gold Tension Setting with Princess Sidestones	White Gold Three Stone Trellis Setting

The popularity of CZ took the jewelry world by storm. Jewelry manufactures seized the opportunity to sell the imitation diamond to those unable to afford the real thing. Many consumers, desiring the diamond look without the price tag, welcomed the availability of CZ. Soon, everything from CZ engagement rings to CZ bracelets and earrings were on the market.

CZ Engagement Rings Compared to Diamond Engagement Rings

It’s difficult for untrained eyes to spot differences between CZ engagement rings and diamond engagement rings. There are features that set CZ engagement rings apart from natural diamond rings, but it usually takes a microscope to observe them. Judge for yourself how CZ engagement rings measure-up against natural diamond rings:

• Like real diamond engagement rings, CZ engagement rings are available in a variety of colors. But what if you want a perfectly colorless diamond in your engagement ring? Well, you may have a difficult time since most diamonds have small amounts of color. But that’s not the case with CZ. Perfectly colorless CZ engagement rings are readily available because they can be created that way.
• CZ engagement rings are more delicate than diamond engagement rings. It’s not because CZ engagement rings are badly made, but CZ is softer than diamond. CZ has a hardness rating of 8.3 compared to 10 for diamond. So if you try to cut glass with a diamond, and the diamond breaks, then it’s not a real diamond. This also means that CZ will scratch and become dull over a period of time. It is just not hard enough to withstand every day wear and tear.
• CZ engagement rings are flawless because they are man made. Cracks, hairlines, feathers, etc... are all foreign to CZ engagement rings. But if you examine even the most expensive diamond engagement rings, inclusions will appear in some or all of them because a diamond is a naturally occuring gemstone.

As you can see, the differences between CZ engagement rings and diamond engagement rings appear to be barely noticeable. You should remember that a CZ stone will wear, scratch and become dull quickly because it is not very hard. It will almost certainly need to be replaced at some time. A real diamond however, will have intrinsic value because it is natural, somewhat rare and, in our society, valued as an eternal symbol of love. Your preference for one or the other depends on how you feel about imitation diamonds. At Novori Jewelry we never sell CZ and want you to have the very best natural diamod for your engagement proposal. If natural diamonds are your preference, feel free to search our website. Call us and we can help you find the perfect diamond that she will love and that fits within your diamond jewelry budget. We’re sure you’ll find an affordable diamond to fit within your budget at Novori.

Related Articles

• Certified Diamond Stud Earring
• Fancy Colored Diamond Rings
• Diamond Bracelets can be Cherished Forever
• Diamond Earrings for Anyone on your List
• Buying Fancy Colored Diamond Rings
• Cheap Engagement Rings
• Unusual Engagement Rings
• Engagement Ring Cost
• Synthetic and Imitation Diamonds
• Diamond Cut
• Diamond Clarity
• Diamond Color
• Diamond Carat
• Diamond Cost
• Treated Diamonds
• Colored Diamonds
• Diamond Flaws and Inclusions
• Judging Diamond Quality
• Shopping for Engagement Rings
• Colored Diamonds
• Fake Diamond Rings