Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings: The Complete Guide (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to get a cubic zirconia engagement ring? ›

Everyone has their own personal preference when it comes to engagement rings. Cubic zirconia is the best option if you're on a very strict budget. Look for stainless steel or sterling silver cubic zirconia engagement rings. These are beautiful, but inexpensive, and both the band and the stone will last a few years.

From a value standpoint, cubic zirconia is worth next to nothing. If you were to try and resell a cubic zirconia engagement ring, you could perhaps retain some value for the setting. The cubic zirconia gemstone, just like other diamond simulants, carries no market value.

Most jewelers have handy electronic testers that can quickly identify a CZ as a simulant. A trained gemologist can perform the tests necessary to make most important distinctions. And they can assist you if the stone warrants sending to the laboratory for more advanced testing or grading.

Does Cubic Zirconia Turn Green? The stone itself won't turn green, but if it is set in a cheap metal like copper, the metal can turn your skin green.

Cons: Durability. Despite its hardness, cubic zirconia's durability does not compare to diamonds. If worn every day, cubic zirconia will only last a few years.

Cubic Zirconia Looks Cheap

Cubic zirconia lacks shine and brilliance and can even look like cut glass. It's totally colorless (whereas a high-quality diamond will still have a slight yellow tint) and adds no luxury to your engagement ring purchase.

Durability and Hardness

Durability is a crucial consideration when choosing a gemstone for everyday wear. Moissanite exceptional hardness makes it a durable option that can withstand the rigors of daily life. Cubic zirconia, while durable in its own right, may be more susceptible to wear and tear over time.

How Long Does Cubic Zirconia Last? Cubic zirconia is considerably less durable than a real diamond. They can be worn daily for between 2 to 3 years and up to 5 years if someone wears them occasionally. As cubic zirconia stones age, they tend to become scratched and cloudy.

"A cubic zirconia is typically less than $30 per 'carat.

Because of the difference in densities, a 1 carat cubic zirconia gemstone will actually be slightly smaller than a 1 carat diamond. A 1 carat stone will look larger or smaller to the eyes too, depending on how the gemstone is cut.

Will cubic zirconia go off on a diamond tester? ›

No. Cubic Zirconia (or CZ) does not have high enough thermal conductivity to pass. So, when you test a CZ with a diamond tester, it will not show as diamond. In fact, distinguishing CZ from diamond is one of the most important uses of thermal conductivity pen testers.

You will see that the diamond has white or silvery sparkles only. However, cubic zirconia will give out colourful sparkles such as red, yellow or blue. Another important differentiating feature between these two stones is that a diamond possesses sharp facets, whereas a zirconium does not have sharp facets.

Most of the time, something as simple as the air that surrounds you and, more importantly, the moisture in this air can lead to a layer of corrosion forming on CZ jewelry. This will result in your CZ jewelry getting tarnished and most likely having to be replaced.

To summarize: remove your CubicZirconia.com rings and other jewelry before washing your hands with astringent chemicals or unsafe tapwater, showering, swimming in a pool or swimming in the ocean.

CZs are colorless and look like diamonds to the untrained eye, but they do not have the same chemical makeup as diamonds. (Again, diamonds are carbon and CZs are zirconium dioxide.) For that reason, they are sometimes called "synthetic" or "simulated" stones when referenced in overlapping spheres.

While one can wear Cubic Zirconia jewelry regularly, it is recommended that you keep the stone away from harsh chemicals that may be present in certain cosmetics.

No. Cubic Zirconia (or CZ) does not have high enough thermal conductivity to pass. So, when you test a CZ with a diamond tester, it will not show as diamond. In fact, distinguishing CZ from diamond is one of the most important uses of thermal conductivity pen testers.