About Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia is a synthetic material that has been produced since 1976. It is a crystalline compound composed of the elements zirconium and oxygen. When cut to the proper shape, cubic zirconia (CZ) resembles a diamond. Since the 1970s it has been a substitute product for diamonds in jewelry and fashion.
Origins
Cubic zirconia was first produced in the 1970s but its development extends back much further. The first natural cubic zirconia was identified in 1937 by German scientists M. V. Stackelberg and K. Chudoba. The zirconia they discovered was microscopic but, unlike other similar compounds that had already been discovered, it had a cubic structure like that of a diamond. Although the potential uses for a diamond-like substance were many, especially in the field of optics, Stackelberg and Chudoba did not believe their discovery to be of any importance.
Development
As the need for a diamond substitute became clear, scientists began to explore ways of growing cubic zirconia in useful quantities. In the 1960s, French scientists discovered a means of growing small cubic zirconia crystals. It wasn't until 1973 that Russian scientists at Moscow's Lebedev Physical Institute announced their success in growing cubic zirconia in a specially designed crucible that could withstand the extremely high temperatures needed for the compound to form. In 1976, cubic zirconia was produced for scientific and commercial applications, making several earlier materials obsolete such as the synthetic forms of strontium titanate, yttrium aluminum garnet and gadolinium gallium garnet.
Characteristics
In appearance and practical use, cubic zirconia resembles diamonds in many ways. It is an isometric compound and is extremely dense (even more dense than a diamond). In terms of hardness, cubic zirconia is rated at around 8 on the Mohs hardness scale while diamonds are harder, rated 10. Cubic zirconia also affects the light that passes through it in ways similar to a diamond, making it a good substitute in optical and aesthetic applications. Both materials have a high refractive index and high dispersions. Cubic zirconia can also be produced with a number of color tints.
Differences from Diamonds
Cubic zirconia does differ from diamonds in several important ways. While most diamonds have some natural flaws, cubic zirconia is essentially flawless with a consistent composition throughout. It can also be produced to be colorless, which is a quality very desirable, but seldom found, in natural diamonds. Most examples of cubic zirconia would receive a perfect D rating on the scale of diamond colorlessness.
Since it is chemically different, cubic zirconia is generally cut with differently shaped facets than those of a diamond. Finally, cubic zirconia reacts differently to heat, acting as a thermal insulator, whereas diamonds are conductors of heat.
Reputation
Another important difference between cubic zirconia and diamonds is the fact that cubic zirconia is synthetic and therefore lacks the scarcity that contributes to the cost and appeal of natural diamonds. This leads many people to regard cubic zirconia as an inauthentic diamond substitute. Cubic zirconia jewelry is often considered to be tasteless, as the wearer or purchaser may be attempting to lead others to believe that they are wearing the more expensive diamonds.
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