The Diamond Alternative

Cubic Zirconia is a great alternative to a diamond that gives the same great look at an affordable price. For those on a limited budget or looking for a cheap engagement ring, this could be the answer you have been looking for.

Undoubtedly the best diamond simulant available today, Cubic Zirconia has been established as an affordable diamond substitute as well as an important fashion staple in itself.

The Cubic Zirconia story began in 1937, when the cubic form of zirconium oxide, (CZ for short) was discovered by two German mineralogists. It wasn't until the 1970's however-when Soviet scientists learned how to "grow" this mineral in a laboratory that it gradually became popular with jewelry designers. CZ really took off in the 1980's, when Swarovski & Co., a world-renowned Austrian producer of leaded crystal, began producing cubic Zirconia for mass consumption.
Recently, new developments in CZ production have led to a sparkling new array of CZ's in every color of the rainbow. Gemologists agree that Cubic Zirconia is the finest diamond simulant because it comes closer than any other gem material to matching the characteristics of a diamond. Most people, even trained gemologists, cannot tell the difference with the naked eye.
FIRE and BRILLIANCE CZ has slightly less brilliance (sparkle) than diamond, while having more fire (flashes of rainbow colors). The overall effect is so similar to diamond that trained gemologists often require special equipment to tell them apart.
HARDNESS There are very few substances on earth harder than CZ. With a hardness rating of 8.5, CZ comes close to matching diamond's perfect 10. WEIGHT CZ is about 75% heavier than diamond. As such, a CZ's size is referred to in carats only as in comparison to diamonds. CZs are more accurately measured in millimeters, referring to the diameter. *A 6.5mm cubic Zirconia is equal in size to a one-carat diamond and actually weighs about 1.75 carats.
CLARITY Because CZ is grown in a lab in a controlled environment, if the crystal is not perfect in clarity, it is simply not used. The finest CZ's are perfect in clarity. CUT The finest CZ is cut to exacting tolerances, according to the proportions demanded in fine diamond cutting. Finely cut CZ's will have a polished girdle and more fire

See Wikipedia, Cubic zirconia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_zirconia (the descriptions and text above were extracted from Wikipedia) (as of Jun. 18, 2008, 00:07 GMT).