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How To Recognize A High Quality Cubic Zirconia Ring

By Jerri Perry


Cubic zirconia jewellery is a popular alternative to authentic gemstones and offer the same dazzling look for a fraction of the cost. However just like real stones, they also vary in terms of quality so it pays to know what characteristics to look for. Some cubic zirconias resemble genuine stones more than others, and using these tips can help make finding a high quality cubic zirconia ring much easier.

The nature of CZ's is to emit color flashes in the full rainbow spectrum, diamonds on the other hand only give off blue or white light alone. Therefore if one desires a diamond lookalike, it's best to choose a higher quality CZ, as these tend to emanate light in a manner similar to diamonds.

Grades of quality apply to CZ's as they do with diamonds. The finest specimens are known as "AAAAA", and resemble diamonds the most with regards to hardness and how much white light they reflect. Most costume jewellery is set with lower grade stones such as "A" or "AA", but there are some pieces which are typically more expensive and have higher grade CZ's.

The clarity must also be considered, just like when one is buying diamond jewellery. Clarity can be described as how clear the stone appears to the eye. Ideally one should be able to see into the stone's center, however sometimes this is not possible and it can have a cloudy or greyish look to it, this can happen during some sub-standard manufacturing processes. Clear-stone rings not only look more realistic and appealing, but they are also stronger.

If cubic zirconias are ever described as "synthetic diamonds" by a seller, this is not to be taken as truth. Although both CZ's and synthetic gemstones are man-made, they are not equivalent to each other. A true synthetic gemstone needs to have all the same gemological and physical traits as a diamond, and a CZ has its own traits, so it cannot be accurately referred to as synthetic diamond.

Hardness of a gemstone is measured against the Moh's scale, with diamonds having the greatest hardness and a rating of 10. The top quality CZ's usually have a score of 8.5, and those with lower grades are about a 6, making them susceptible to scratches, in particular if worn on the hands or wrists.

Cubic zirconias are available in a wide selection of rich colors such as blue, purple, green, and red, which can at first glance bear a resemblance to precious gemstones but the key difference is that these CZ pieces which have a lot more sparkle to them. While lovely in their own sense, CZ is not usually as convincing a replica of colored stones as its simulated counterparts.

These tips can help a buyer ascertain a high quality cubic zirconia ring when he or she sees one, which can be very helpful in the long run for selecting a piece that will stand the test of time. Although personal preference should not be undermined as criteria when it comes to choosing a piece of jewellery one will be happy with for years to come since beauty is in the eye of the beholder.




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