Cubic Zirconium
cu·bic zir·co·ni·um | ˈkyü-bik zər-ˈkō-nē-əm
noun
A man made gemstone that appears very much like diamond, yet does not have the same intrinsic properties, such as hardness
Cubic Zirconium is often referred to as CZ. They are mass-produced and are much less expensive than natural diamonds. Cubic zirconia is an uncolored, synthetic gemstone made from zirconium dioxide (a cubic crystalline). Although this is rare, cubic zirconia may appear organically in nature within the mineral baddeleyite - however, it’s something to keep in mind. In each and every piece of cubic zirconia jewelry, gemstones are solely created in a lab.Cubic zirconia is oftentimes referred to as an inexpensive alternative to diamonds. Furthermore, because cubic zirconia is lab-created, it’s unique in its artistic features and physical structure; however, their main competitor, the diamond, is natural, and deemed much more beautiful. Cubic zirconia is uniquely made at 4,982ºF by melting magnesium and calcium with zirconium oxide powder. The gemstone is then removed from the heat for hours, then crystals form and stabilize. Then, that’s when the crystals are cut and polished. Nevertheless, each lab follows its own processes.