However, there are plenty of reasons why cubic zirconia engagement rings can make a good choice.  You’d be wise to pay attention because they’ll help convince her that you made the right decision.

The main reason that you should consider cubic zirconia engagement rings is because they look exactly like diamonds.  They are produced in a lab specifically for this purpose.  Unless your hopeful fiancee is a gemologist, she won’t be able to tell the difference.  She can also pass it off as the real thing to her friends.

Also, diamonds are mainly bought because they’re the hardest mineral in the world and will be around long after the two of you are gone.  They measure the highest on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, so their hardness can’t be beat.

However, cubic zirconia engagement rings are nothing to sneeze at.  They are made synthetically in a lab to simulate the look of diamonds, but they are also almost as hard as they are too.  They measure a nine on the aforementioned scale of mineral hardness.

One of the main reasons why you should start looking at cubic zirconia engagement rings is because they’re quite cheap.  This is especially important if you’re suffering from a financial crisis but still want to get engaged.

She’ll have plenty of color choices when it comes to these engagement rings.  You can find them with a clear color so they look exactly like a diamond.  But, you can also find stones with a dark chocolate color that certainly won’t be mistaken for the real thing.

Your girlfriend will also have various metal choices when it comes to cubic zirconia engagement rings.  At the very least, you can get a band that’s made of real white or yellow gold.  Or you can minimize your budget even more and get a sterling silver band.

The main problem that you’ll have with cubic zirconia engagement rings is getting your girlfriend to like it.  However, since they’re considerably less expensive, she can have a much larger stone.  She’ll undoubtedly want a real diamond, not just a cheap imitation though.    Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings are probably the best option for young couples, just starting their journey together.

Why? Because it’s easily made in the lab for a fraction of the cost. Beautiful and cheap sound like an oxymoron right? Not so with the dazzling CZ engagement ring.

Let’s look at how cubic zirconia came to exist. Cubic zirconia, is a mineral that naturally occurs like traditional diamonds and was first discovered in 1937. Cubic zirconia is rare and hard to acquire but a chemical process discovered in the 1960’s allowed scientists to reproduce cubic zirconia and produce a crystalline form of zirconium dioxide. In appearance, they look just like diamonds to the naked eye because even though they have a bit less sparkle they cast more rays of color. Created in a lab, the CZ are typically flawless and about 70% heavier than diamonds but more brittle and soft. Diamonds naturally have flaws and impurities. Both come in a variety of colors. In the CZ, this is achieved by adding oxides such as nickel, iron, titanium, etc. during the CZ synthesis process. CZ has a hardness rating of eight on the Moh’s scale compared to man-made diamonds with a hardness rating of 10 on the Moh’s Scale. CZ can replicate the look of the finest-cut natural diamonds.

Aside from cost savings, why should you choose cubic zirconia engagement rings over real diamonds? Sure diamonds are classic and last forever, but many of us just don’t have the budget to buy something spectacular. Three month’s salary is the hard and fast rule, but it’s hard to part with that amount of money. Here are a few reasons you can really feel good about choosing  cubic zirconia engagement rings as your symbol of lasting love and commitment.

As concern about our impact on the planet and the welfare of human lives increases so does the concern over natural resources. Diamonds have a history of greediness. Constant harvesting in our fragile environment can negatively impact people’s lives and with CZ you know you can feel confident that the stone has not had any negative impact on others or the environment.

The Beauty Aspect: Finding a flawless diamond is rare and extremely cost prohibitive and countless stones have unfavorable colors and inclusions. In comparison a CZ engagement ring gives you a flawless and sparkling stone.

Variety: Cubic zirconia stones come in a wide variety of colors and shapes which are becoming more and more popular as people choose the stone colors to also symbolize cultural ties.

In conclusion, unless you are set and determined to spend thousands on a diamond ring the cubic zirconia engagement ring is a stunning and affordable choice. You don’t have to sacrifice quality or most of your savings to get what you want in an engagement ring.  Beautiful and cost effective, your best option may be cubic zirconia engagement rings.

The average guy would not give his fiance a wad of cash to illustrate his love, but he justifies the purchase of a ludicrously priced gemstone as an apt engagement gift. The slogan “diamonds are forever” has morphed into an unwavering truth which places the diamond as the exclusive expression of true love and most couples won’t settle for anything less.

It has become a common belief that boyfriends who buy cubic zirconia engagement rings are cheap, because the stone is inferior. The materialistic superficiality of this belief is enough to strike Amy Winehouse into an argument on morality and sentimentality.

Cubic zirconia engagement rings are less expensive than the diamond counterparts, but this does not imply that the gemstone is an inferior expression of love. A diamond is actually falls below the par set by cubic zirconia in a number of categories.

The laboratory produced cubic zirconia is flawless and thus sparkles more effectively when struck by light. The gemstone looks almost identical to a diamond and jewelers generally have to analyze the stone with special equipment to determine if it is real or not.

If jewelers battle to tell the difference between the two stones, then your sweetheart will definitely not be able to. Spending the extra money on a stone (yes that’s all it is) would be akin to throwing money at your girlfriend and shouting, “This is how much I love you.” Behavior like this is akin to the wasteful insolence exhibited by the aristocrats of seventeenth century Europe and has no room in a modern society, unless your name is Kanye West.

We deplore the shallowness of a materialistic businessman, while simultaneously accepting the marketing ploy of a massive corporate entity as romantic truth. It is time that we do away with this contradiction and accept that cubic zirconia engagement rings are just as capable of expressing the extent of our devotion as diamonds.

We wouldn’t unquestioningly accept the marketing ploys of Coca-Cola, Pepsi or Macdonald’s, but we make an exception when it comes to diamonds. Somewhere in the human psyche we have forgotten that De Beers had a superb marketing campaign and we have reconstructed that into something that cannot be challenged. It is important to see diamonds for what they are, an expensive sign. On the simple principle of rejecting marketing as a whole, we should be willing to consider alternatives, like cubic zirconia engagement rings.

The entire diamond industry is based on a shrewd and fallacious marketing ploy which has redefined compressed carbon as an everlasting symbol of love. Hearing of the success of the De Beers marketing strategy makes one wonder if it wouldn’t be possible to package beach shells and sell them as a symbol of new beginnings after divorce. Although diamonds might be forever there is no guarantee that your love will go the same route.

The realization that love is a fickle and changeable human condition should serve as enough of a reason not to waste extensive money on a flawed gemstone for an engagement ring. Cubic zirconia engagement rings offer a cheaper alternative to diamond rings and there are numerous benefits which actually make them the superior choice.

Firstly, cubic zirconia is a laboratory produced compound and it is consequently unflawed. The luster of a cubic gemstone surpasses that of the diamond and provides a particularly romantic sparkle when viewed under the dancing flame of candle.

Although not quite as hard as a diamond, CZs are perfect for daily wear and easy maintenance.

Diamonds may last a long time, but so do rubies, sapphires and cubic zirconia engagement rings. The bottom line is that you only need the gemstone to last for as long as you live. The lifespan of a gemstone, regardless of the category, will always be longer than that of a human. It is also important to remember that just because a diamond might last forever, it doesn’t automatically infer that your love will do the same. If the love ends, then you will be stuck with an everlasting reminder of the abject failure.

At the end of the day, the extent of your love is limited to the longevity of your actual feelings and has nothing to do with any astute marketing slogans. A grain of sand will outlive your love, but this fact alone doesn’t justify collecting the material and wearing it around your finger. Cubic zirconia engagement rings are just as capable of expressing your thoughts as a diamond and it is available at a fraction of cost.

If the film Blood Diamond made you think, then you probably aren’t too fond of the diamond industry and you definitely don’t want to illustrate your devotion by giving a ring which maybe soaked in the blood of exploited Africans. The expense of diamonds when combined with the political implications of the whole industry has resulted in the growing popularity of cubic zirconia engagement rings.

The clever marketing by De Beers which reshaped diamonds as the everlasting expression of true love meant that no other stone could fully express your love. Diamonds are forever and lesser stones just can’t match up to the romantic properties of this expensive piece of compressed carbon.

The blood diamond scandal tarnished the image of the diamonds and this, when compounded with the economic crisis, means that people are becoming more open to alternatives to evince their love.

Young lovers sometimes take the notion of true love to mean that the stone embedded in a ring should be a real diamond or nothing. The great irony of this thinking is that nothing could be shallower or more artificial than using a material item to prove your devotion.

Cubic zirconia has a bad reputation because it is always considered an artificial alternative and therefore inferior to the diamond. The reputation of cubic zirconia is due to ignorance and the astute marketing of the diamond industry. As a lab grown crystal, cubic zirconia is superior to the diamond because it is unflawed. Some would argue that the flaws make the diamond more real, but this once again comes down to whether you believe that a stone can express the extent of your love.

Cubic zirconia is also morally superior, because the muddy hands of an African slave didn’t have to extract your love stone at gun point. One of the main reasons why diamonds are so expensive is because the whole industry is controlled by major corporations that have become adept at controlling markets and adjusting prices.

In spite what De Beers might suggest, your love is not measurable by the hardness or longevity of a stone. Cubic zirconia engagement rings are great alternatives for when you pop the question because they are flawless, morally superior and economical. You could spend your leftover cash on a volunteer experience on an African diamond mine. Perhaps, a few scorching days in the cholera infested waters of Liberia might make sparkling in candlelight seem less important.

CZ (a typical abbreviation for Cubic Zirconia) are indeed considered crystals, or to be more precise, a form of zirconium dioxide.  Now, the crystalline form of cubic zirconia is not usually found in nature, so some scientist or chemist has to go out of their way to heat it and tweak it and make it into a crystal for use in jewelry.  If you are considering purchasing a Cubic Zirconia Engagement Ring for your honey, doing this bit of homework and explaining to her how much work goes into these durable, visually flawless crystals may help to win her over to the more economical side of the fence.

But what is the difference and why are these Diamoniques (a common nickname for Cubic Zirconia) less expensive than other synthetic stones used for jewelry?  Well, Cubic Zironia Engagement Rings are highly refractive, allowing for them to sparkle and shine more than cheap glass and crystal knock-offs.  But, since they are not as dense as diamonds, they sell for a lesser price.

However, if you are interested in the differences – what gemologists and jewelers take note of is that Cubic Zirconia weigh more than diamonds but are not as hard.  Comparing them to other “made” (rather than “mined”) stones, CZ have a more natural shine (more similar to real diamonds), they are harder than other made competitors, they do not have visual imperfections, and they rank higher in their colorless appearance.

One downside that you may run into when you are shopping for a Cubic Zirconia Engagement Ring is that finding a quality piece in the desired setting and cut may be a tad difficult as they are not necessarily readily available in some jewelry stores.  Should this stop you from popping the question or shopping for your sweetheart?  Not at all!

Most importantly, if you are going to go the route of  Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings, commit. Don’t worry. Be discerning, be careful, and remember all of that science business that may get her to appreciate CZ just as much as you, and many others do.

The reason why a lot of folks decide to go for cubic zirconia, instead of diamonds, is the price. As an example, a 1.00ct diamond that is reasonably white, eye clean (we are talking about a stone that does have inclusions, but that can only be seen with a loupe) will cost you roughly 6 to 8 thousand dollars.A cubic zirconia of that size can be purchased for say USD 200.-.

Let me explain, why there is such a huge gap in price. A natural diamond takes billions of years to form, under intense heat and pressure, deep under the earths crust and when the diamond reaches the surface, the conditions have to be just right. If the temperature is too hot, the would be diamond just turns back into gas and if it is to cold, we get coal.
All conditions met, we get a diamond that travels with the lava and millions of years later, we try to find it by mining.
So we have a very rare gem, that costs a lot to find.

On the other hand, the stones used in cubic zirconia engagement rings are created in a laboratory under precise conditions, with materials that are plentiful in nature and in a process that doesn’t take much time at all. A perfect choice for those, that can not afford a diamond, or simply find it wasteful to spend that kind of money.
Please don’t get me wrong. My intend is not to make cubic zirconia sound like, they have no value. On the contrary, there are other benefits to make the less expensive choice and here is why.

If you want a diamond, they are going to have inclusions (carbon deposits for example), so in a sense, they are not perfect. Yes, you can get perfect diamonds, but be prepared to pay a ton of money.

Cubic zirconias are always perfect and who wouldn’t want to give a cubic zirconia engagement ring with a perfect stone to a perfect woman.

A Little Bit of History

Jewelry has always been something that the rich and the famous have flaunted, right from the very old ages till date. While the kings and emperors have worn diamonds and other precious jewels to show off their wealth and style statement, it has been only the ladies of the middle class society who could have thought of asking for some diamond jewelry from their men.

However, men have always been stylish, even if they were not able to show it. And the cubic zirconia engagement rings portray this accurately. And with the changing times, men have realized that if they cannot go for the highly priced and dearer diamond rings, a cubic zirconia can serve the purpose quite well.

CZ Jewelry Options

These cubic zirconia rings (or cz rings) are man-made stones that look very much like the original diamonds, and yet cost much less. Not only have they been used widely on the engagement rings, both for men and women, but they are widely used to create a number of other jewelry products, like earrings, bracelet, and so on.

These cubic zirconia engagement rings are much less expensive when compared with the real diamond jewelry that you may come across. However they look very much like the real diamond jewelry and understanding the difference may not be easy unless you get an expert to look at it.

Therefore, such jewelry has proven to be a great choice for men today, letting men express themselves and their style statements more clearly.

The Value

Just like an original diamond, the cz stones also have different gradations to establish the price and the value of a stone. The 3 main factors for you to consider here are the quality (or grade) of the stone, the metal used for the band on which the stone is set, and the quality of the craftsmanship seen with the ring that you are thinking about purchasing.

Consider all the above points before you decide on buying any cubic zirconia jewelry to understand whether the price you are paying for the product is reasonable or if it is overpriced. A great option for men to go for, showing how fashion conscious men can be, and yet not being too heavy for the pockets are cubic zirconia engagement rings .

These rings are available for both men and women, and are quite the “in thing” at the moment. If you have a wedding ahead for which you want a diamond ring, but you don’t have enough money in your pockets, these cubic zirconia engagement rings can be what you should go for. Such jewelry is both fashionable and easy to clean and maintain.

Goes with Anything

One of the best features seen with these rings is that they come in a huge variety of styles and designs. Therefore look a bit closer and you will find the exact piece that will match your personal taste. You can get such a ring to match any dress that you may be wearing, and in any color that you may want it.

The cubic zirconia engagement rings can be a great style statement with the uneven diamonds and the bright colors of the diamonds that are sometimes used. In fact, these rings can be something that you can wear all the time without having to be extra careful about them. These stones don’t get damaged easily, which is one of the great features of a zirconia diamond.

What to Look For?

When you are thinking about buying one of these rings, there are a few points that you must be careful about, in order to get the best ring to suit your taste and style. First of all, make sure that the bands you go for are either sterling silver or simply gold. This will make it even more suitable for regular use.

The next thing to understand is whether the design is what you would like to wear. These rings are generally worn at all times and this is something that you must be sure of when buying the rings. You wouldn’t want to get your engagement ring changed after a while as it doesn’t seem to go with your taste. So make sure you are fully aware of the design before paying the money for it.

Finally, try to look for a reliable store or jeweler to buy these rings from. There are a huge number of options for you to consider, so don’t hurry. Look around a bit and compare the quality, the looks, the prices and the reputation of the store where you are considering the purchase of your cubic zirconia engagement rings .

Cubic zirconia rings have quite a few advantages- the biggest being the price. Cubic zirconia rings will cost  a fraction of what similarly sized diamond rings would cost. Since cubic zirconia is produced in a controlled environment, a certain degree of control can be exercised on many of its characteristics like clarity and color. Therefore, cubic zirconia is made flawless and can be made virtually in any color. Cubic zirconia rings will be as hard as diamond rings –don’t worry about them chipping easily.

Unlike diamonds, cubic zirconias are measured by diameter and not weight (carat). Between a diamond and a cubic zirconia of the same size, the cubic zirconia will trump diamond in weight by about 1.7 times. But just like diamond a cubic zirconia also comes graded a single carat high grade cubic zirconia can cost about $100 easily.

How to care for your ring

Cubic Zirconia rings needs to be looked after like any other jewelry. You can clean the cubic zirconia using a conventional detergent or a specialized jewelry cleaning liquid. These days there is an option of using an ultra-sonic jewelry cleaner. One should remember that the brilliance of the stone can be compromised if a film forms on the surface. Care should be taken that the surface remains clean and doesn’t come in contact with any harmful substances. Wiping the surface thoroughly after cleaning will ensure that the sheen remains intact. It may be a pseudo-diamond cubic zirconia ring but it is jewelry nonetheless. Little steps go a long way towards maintaining the sparkling relationship people develop with their cubic zirconia rings.

1976 made professing your love infinitely easier. You don’t need to be a rich guy to love. After all, feelings matter more, and you can always buy a real diamond ring later – your girl ought to understand. In the meantime the right option are cubic zirconia engagement rings .