Cubic Zirconia Engagement Ring

An engagement ring is more than a piece of jewelry. It is a promise, a hope, a life-altering event that lasts forever. You may want to consider the purchase of a cubic zirconia engagement ring, if you are in the market for a beautiful engagement ring, but don't have the budget for a large karat diamond.

A cubic zirconia engagement ring, which is an excellent diamond engagement ring alternative is one of the world's most popular simulated gemstones. Beautiful, sparkling and brilliant, cubic zirconias engagement ring provide the stunning look of a natural diamond for a fraction of the price.

Most engagement rings are set with a diamond or at least with a gemstone that came from deep within the earth – a product of Mother Nature. On the contrary, a cubic zirconia engagement ring is set with a gemstone that came from a laboratory, a product of man.

If you’re one of those people who consider manmade gems to be amusing just because they are not “natural,” consider the difference between a bitter, all-natural cacao bean and a bar of fine, manmade chocolate.

Rocks and Minerals

Cubic zirconia is a mineral called zirconium oxide. This is found in nature, but rarely. Synthesized, it is colorless unless another mineral is added to give it color. It is hard and, certainly, has none of the defects that a naturally occurring stone would have.

The name is similar to the gem “zircon” but that stone is composed of zirconium silicate and is different. Cut like a diamond, only an expert can tell the difference between a cubic zirconia engagement ring and one set with a genuine diamond.

Because Cubic zirconia engagement rings are man-made, these cubic structures of zirconium oxide are far less expensive than their natural cousins and nearly indistinguishable to the naked eye.

Differences between Diamonds and Cubic Zirconia

In scientific terms, a cubic zirconia engagement ring is quite similar to one set with a diamond. One of the ways a gemstone is judged is by dispersion rate. That’s the degree to which a prism cut from the gemstone splits the light to show “fire.”

The dispersive power of a cubic zirconium is slightly greater than that of a diamond, so that a cubic zirconia engagement ring has more fire to it. The hardness rating is 8.3 compared to a diamond’s rating of 10.

Because diamonds have a higher refractive rate, the cut of the two stones should be slightly different to optimize their brilliance. The biggest difference between the two gems is that a diamond is an efficient heat conductor while a cubic zirconia is a heat insulator.

Color is one of the vital C’s that determine a diamond’s value. While extremely few diamonds are really colorless, most cubic zirconia can be made to meet the perfect color rating.

Apart from its color, and heat conductivity, a cubic zirconia engagement ring looks, cuts, and lasts like a genuine diamond. It is also less costly per carat so that the same price will get a larger cubic zirconia engagement ring.

The point of an engagement ring has nothing to do with the gem. However, the promise, the hope, the life-altering event are the same whether the ring has a gem or not.