Diamond VS Cubic Zirconia

What is diamond? 

A Diamond is a mineral composed of carbon, formed under immense heat and pressure. It is the hardest naturally occurring substance and gemstone known. Diamonds can be natural/mined, or lab grown.  

What is Cubic Zirconia? 

Cubic Zirconia is a colourless, synthetic gemstone made of the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide, a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in most parts of the world. It's usually colourless or white, but it can also be created as a variety of colours by adding other elements during the manufacturing process.  

Comparison 

When comparing Cubic Zirconia to Diamonds, several factors come into play, including cost, durability, and brilliance. 

Cost 

This is one of the top factors that people talk about when deciding between Diamond and Cubic Zirconia. Cubic Zirconia is a lot more affordable than Diamond, with one reason being that it is mass produced. Diamonds are more expensive largely due to it rarity, although there are also more affordable diamonds options such as lab grown diamonds, lower quality, or smaller sized diamonds.  

Durability 

Diamonds are the hardest known natural material, ranking 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. This exceptional hardness ensures that diamonds are highly resistant to scratching and abrasion. 

Fun fact: Diamonds can only be cut with diamonds.  

This means that diamonds, if cared for properly, will literally last forever. It is a diamond’s combination of beauty, rarity and timelessness that people value. 

On the other hand, Cubic Zirconia ranks around 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. This is relatively harder than many gemstones, though not quite the same as Diamond.  

Brilliance 

The brilliance of a diamond is unparalleled to any other gemstones. Cubic Zirconia has a lower refractive index, between 2.15 - 2.18, compared with 2.42 for Diamonds. Light passes through Cubic Zirconia much differently, offering less reflection back to the eye, therefore may look less brilliant and “sparkly” in comparison.  

Ultimately, the choice between Cubic Zirconia and Diamonds depends on individual preferences, budget constraints, and intended use. For those seeking an affordable option which appearance is similar to Diamonds, Cubic Zirconia would be a wonderful choice. For those with a higher budget or who value other factors such as durability over cost, Diamonds continue to reign supreme in the world of fine jewellery.