Cubic zirconia, otherwise known as CZ or Diamonique, is one of the many modern stones that began life as a diamond substitute (simulant) but is now being marketed as a desirable gemstone in its own right.
What Is Cubic Zirconia?
Cubic zirconia is a man made crystal that resembles natural diamond closely when viewed at a distance. The word “cubic” refers to its internal structure rather than its outward appearance and you can buy CZ in just about any shape. A CZ crystal is significantly heavier than a natural diamond of the same size and shape.
Cubic zirconia is usually colourless, however as with natural diamonds it can be produced in a variety of colours if required. It’s a fairly hard stone but not as hard as true diamond and needs to be treated with respect. The stones are sometimes coated in “diamond like carbon” (DLC) to further improve their optical qualities and make them look even more like real diamonds.
Cubic zirconia is widely available today and you can buy CZ stones in a wide variety of jewelry settings including rings, earrings and pendants. The price is usually significantly lower than that of a real diamond, meaning that you can get a lot more stone for your money.