Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings – For Realists
Cubic zirconia engagement rings are for the romantic, as well as for realists.
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.
Why Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings
Why cubic zirconia engagement rings?
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.
Cubic Zironia Engagement Rings – Fake Diamonds?
Alright, so, yeah, some people snidely refer to Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings as fake diamonds, but don’t get completely roped into the hype and the name calling. Don’t you even want to know what this crystal is all about, especially given the lower prices? There is a reason they got so popular in the first place!
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.
