We are back with 5 facts about one of our wonderful products and the trip has come to one of our best-selling products throughout Uniq Perler's lifetime.
Today get 5 facts about our cubic zirconia stone.
I don't know if you are just like me, and you are a bit curious about what you actually buy? - Because I am! That is why I have chosen to make a small post about the beautiful zirconia.
How is cubic zirconia stone made?
The recipe is incredibly simple if you ask me. Why? You need two ingredients and then an oven that can turn approx. 2500 degrees Celsius :-D - Easy!
Zirconia stone crystals are a mixture of Zirconium Powder and Zirconium Dioxide. These two ingredients are fused by heating them up to 2500 degrees. The result is a perfectly man-made and flawless stone that has zero inclusions in it.
Are there colored Zirconia stones?
You can believe that it does. We sell several colored zirconia stones ourselves. But why is there such colored zirconia?
It does so for the simple reason that zirconia stones must look like diamonds and want to imitate them as well as possible. Therefore, during the manufacturing process of zirconia stone, some different oxides are added, which give the stone its different colors.
Is cubic zirconia real - Is it a Diamond?
NO, Zirconia is not a real diamond. But it can fool even the sharpest eye, that is, unless you are a jeweler or similar.
Cubic zirconia stones have many of the same properties as diamonds. Its brilliance is almost equal to that of a diamond. Its hardness is also largely the same on the Mohs Scale . Cubic zirconia stone has a hardness of 8.5, where a diamond's is 10.
In addition, zirconia is cut in the same shapes as diamonds and now you might be thinking, what is the difference?
The difference is of course the authenticity and the price - zirconia stones vs diamonds cannot be compared in any way. The value and price of diamonds is significantly greater than zirconia.
What about the value of a zirconia stone?
There is a significant difference indeed. Here, let me give you an example. An engagement ring with a 1-carat cubic zirconia stone can typically be bought for around DKK 100. If, on the other hand, you need a diamond ring that is well cut and has a 1-carat stone. It can be obtained in some places for.. Hold on now! - DKK 20,000
You get just one more example.
If you have to go out and get hold of a Princess Ring with a 1.5 carat zirconia stone, it costs approx. DKK 230-250. If you want the same Princess Ring with a 1.5 carat high-quality diamond, it will cost you approx. DKK 62,000!
These examples are of course set at the top and you can probably find more reasonable prices for diamonds, but this example is based on the average comparative price of these two stones and tells a little about the big value difference there.
Here are the hard facts and differences between diamonds and zirconia - Good luck to those of you who like to geek out like me :-D
As I have mentioned further up in this post, cubic zirconia stone is manufactured, whereas diamond is a naturally occurring substance that our nature produces itself.
Here are the nerdy facts that separate the two stones from each other. To the normal eye, it can be almost impossible to see the differences.
Thermal conductivity: Diamonds are thermal conductors whereas cubic zirconia stone is the diamond's opposite. They are thermal insulators.
Bonus info: This is actually what jewelers and jewelers check when determining the authenticity of the stone.
Hardness: Diamonds have a rating of 10 and cubic zirconia stones have a rating of 8, on the Mohs Hardness Scale .
Density: Cubic Zirconia stone has a density that is 1.7 times denser than a diamond.
Refractive index: The refractive index of diamonds is 2.42 against cubic zirconia stone 2.15-2.18.
Do you mean refractive index?? - What the hell is that? I'll tell you that.
The refractive index tells how the stones refract light rays. This is what can be experienced as these beautiful flashes of color in the stone. Diamonds emit more white light (brilliant), whereas cubic zirconia stones emit the well-known rainbow colors.
Shape: It is typically experienced that diamonds are cut a little bit differently than cubic zirconia stones are.
Diffusion of light: Again, these are the amazingly beautiful shades of color you experience when the stone catches the light correctly. Here, the diamond has a scattering ability of 0.044 against cubic zirconia stone 0.058-0.066
Color: Zirconia stones correspond to the perfect "D" found on the diamond classification scale. But as you probably already know, zirconia also comes in many other colors, such as Green, Orange, Pink etc.
Most diamonds on the other hand. They have a brownish or yellow tinge to them. It is actually only the rarest diamonds that are completely colourless.
Phew Andreas.. That was a lot of info
Whew! This was a decent game. Almost like being back at school again :-D - Don't worry.. I don't have any more either. The last thing I want to say or encourage you to do is take a look at our collection with zirconia. It may well be that they are not real diamonds, but hey, how similar they are and what is better than such a beautiful stone?
(SEE OUR ZIRCONIA COLLECTION)
I do not know? - Maybe I should ask Louisa? - Well, thanks for this time, I hope this post was a little enjoyable reading for you.
Andreas, Uniq Pearls
Sources:
- https://www.diamonds.pro/education/cubic-zirconia-vs-diamond/
- https://www.thespruce.com/cubic-zirconia-information-2043824
- https://jewelryinfoplace.com/cubic-zirconia/