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Diamond or Cubic Zirconia: Knowing the difference can save you money! |
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Written by Administrator
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Nov 19, 2005 at 07:52 AM |
Learn why cubic zirconia has been
recognized as a beautiful synthetic gemstone that has quickly become a
desirable substitute for diamond. Knowing the difference between
diamond and cubic zirconia can help you make better purchasing
decisions and in turn, save you time and money.
So what is the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia? Why is
cubic zirconia (CZ) quickly becoming more popular as a desirable
substitute for diamond? Gemologists can agree that CZ comes closer than
any other gem material to matching the characteristics of a diamond.
Most people, even trained gemologists, cannot tell the difference
between diamond and CZ, with the naked eye. Moreover, to the untrained
eye, CZ looks identical to a good quality diamond. However, under
closer inspection, CZ appears to have slightly less brilliance (or
sparkle) than a diamond, and more fire, or flashes of color.
CZs were originally developed by the Russians, for their space program.
They were developed as an alternative to diamonds that were used in the
optics of their lasers. CZs have a refractive index, dispersion and
hardness so close to a diamond it's uncanny.
So what are some key features that can guide you in telling the
difference between diamond and CZ? Do keep in mind, though, in order to
accurately distinguish the two gems, gemological equipment such as
microscope, or loupe, must be used for testing and verification.
To start, let’s take a look at the hardness factor: Did you know CZ
ranges between 8.5 to 9.0 on the Mohs’ hardness scale whereas diamond,
one of the hardest materials known to man, is rated 10, lying at the
top of the hardness scale?
Furthermore, glass (or sand) is rated approximately 5 to 6 on the
hardness scale, therefore, dust and dirt will not scratch CZ. Indeed,
CZ can scratch glass just like regular diamonds, making it more
resistant to chipping.
One great difference between diamond and CZ is weight. CZs are
heavyweights in comparison to diamonds; a CZ will weigh approximately
1.75 times more than a diamond of equivalent size. So basically, a
piece of CZ the same size as a one-carat diamond weighs about 1.75
carats. Well…isn’t that interesting?
Contemporary production of CZ is virtually flawless, whereas diamond
usually contains impurities and inclusions, or have some sort of
defect, be it a feather, included crystal, or perhaps a remnant of an
original crystal face (e.g. trigons).
In regards to color—more precisely, the lack of color—only the rarest
of diamonds are truly colorless, as most have a tinge of yellow or
brown to some extent. By comparison, CZ in most cases can be made
entirely colorless, equivalent to a perfect "D" on diamond's color
grading scale.
Also, under close inspection with a loupe, the facet shapes of some CZs
appear different from diamonds. Both gems disperse light a little
differently. Dispersion is just a scientific term for the breaking up
of light into its spectral colors. With a dispersive power greater than
diamond (0.060 vs. 0.044), the more prismatic fire of CZ can be seen by
even an untrained eye.
Dispersion occurs based on the gem’s refractive index. In this case,
refractive index simply indicates how much a beam of light will bend,
based on the direction in which it is traveling when it passes between
two materials of different optical densities (such as between diamond
and air; or between CZ and air). Being that CZ has a refractive index
of 2.176, compared to a diamond's 2.417, diamonds are therefore said to
be brighter than CZ.
Another difference between the two gems is that CZs are thermal
insulators—meaning, they reduce the rate of heat transfer—whilst
diamonds are among the most efficient thermal conductors—meaning, they
allow heat to easily pass through them. Without testing the gems’ heat
conductivity, it can be difficult to tell them apart.
Remember, it is a 50/50 guess to identify a gem by visual inspection;
it is not a scientific method of authentication. That is why even
certified and degreed gemologists use gemological equipment for testing
and verification.
You will also be glad to know that CZs are not only durable and
inexpensive, but just like diamonds, they come in any color of the
rainbow, making them even more desirable.
There have been many instances to see if jewelers can tell the
difference between diamond and cubic zirconia, just by examining the
gems with the naked eye. Over and over again, it was inconclusive;
jewelers could not tell the difference just by looking at the gems. So
you can now understand why the difference between diamond and cubic
zirconia rests in the price, and in the mind…
© 2007 Pennybest.com. All rights reserved.
Penny
Best provides you with fine cubic zirconia jewelry and timeless
designs, at an affordable price. The online store at www.pennybest.com
offers you top quality cz jewelry including beautiful rings, earrings,
stunning necklaces, dazzling bracelets, bridal sets, free shipping,
free jewelry box and 30-day money back guarantee.
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Last Updated ( Apr 27, 2007 at 06:20 PM )
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