Thursday, December 18, 2008

Cubic Zirconia - A Diamond's Best Friend!

By Ned Dagostino

Cubic zirconia jewelry is very popular because it has all the qualities of a real diamond and yet costs less than half the price of comparable diamond jewelry. There are reservations about using it for fear of being caught wearing a cheap imitation. This social stigma is absolutely uncalled for since cubic zirconia is a semiprecious gemstone itself. That it is affordable should not deter people from wearing it.

Imitation jewelry is a bonafide segment of the jewelry market. Cubic zirconia jewelry is the best in this segment because it is the closest to a diamond in all important characteristics. It is not glass or plastic or paste jewelry. Cubic zirconia jewelry may not become a family heirloom, but it will last you a lifetime without losing any of its original brilliance and clarity. Cubic zirconia (abbreviated to CZ in trade parlance) gemstones are available in many qualities and, though much cheaper than diamond, there are some varieties which cannot be called cheap at all. Therefore cubic zirconia jewelry is the best alternative to diamond jewelry.

A diamond is a diamond, no two ways about it. A diamond enjoys a unique intrinsic reputation and nothing can take its place. That said, if you are not primarily interested in its intrinsic worth but are interested in wearing brilliantly beautiful jewelry, then cubic zirconia is the logical choice. All the show of a diamond at less than half the price of a real diamond is a jewelry buyer's dream bargain. The actual price can go far below the half price level, depending on the quality of the cubic zirconia, its size, cut and setting.

If you think that cubic zirconia and genuine diamond can be told apart by the casual onlooker, then think again. Cubic zirconia is slightly more colored than the absolutely transparent diamond, and is slightly less brilliant. Even experts can be taken in by the looks of cubic zirconia. The two gemstones will have to be juxtaposed for the diamond expert to tell the difference visually. More telling is the difference in weight by size, cubic zirconia being somewhat less than twice the weight of a diamond. The other difference is in hardness, with cubic zirconia being more brittle than diamond.

An interesting aside to this story is that cubic zirconia has no flaws, whereas genuine diamond has its share of natural defects, ranging from the noticeable to the negligible.

The cubic zirconia is noteworthy for its close visual similarity with diamond. What is less known is that the similarity doesn't end there. Cubic zirconia has all the qualities that are sought after in a diamond - brilliance, clarity, durability, and hardness. The fact that cubic zirconia has all these qualities at an affordable price, makes cubic zirconia jewelry ideal for general wear, where the intrinsic value of the gemstone is not important.

Cubic zirconia jewelry looks every bit as classic and stylish as diamond jewelry. You can wear it on every occasion that requires jewelry to embellish your outfit. Ear studs, chokers, pendants, broaches - all these items are available using cubic zirconia, and they are matchless in price and exquisite beauty.

You can get any jewelry item made with cubic zirconia, ranging from stunning ear studs to classic chokers. You can craft cubic zirconia the same way as a diamond, giving you the same cut and shape of a diamond. You don't have to compromise on style and aesthetics when you use cubic zirconia. So the next time you go shopping for jewelry take a look at the cubic zirconia jewelry section, and get ready for the envious looks you'll attract at the next show! - 16069

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