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.
Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings – Different
Cubic zirconia engagement rings are very different from their diamond counterparts.
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.
