Cubic Zirconia has long been recognized for its amazing
ability to simulate diamonds. In fact, these lab-created gems are more flawless
than diamonds found in nature and can be cut to refract light even more
perfectly than real diamonds. For consumers, CZ stones are an eminently
affordable alternative to diamonds.
Because of the simulated stones' popularity, those who make jewellery
- whether earrings, necklaces, rings, or pendants - are designing ever more
beautiful settings for the synthetic gems. The low wholesale cost of loose
cubic zirconia allows jewellery designers to create ever more elaborate pieces.
In addition to being able to buy loose cubic zirconia at
wholesale or below wholesale prices, jewellery makers appreciate the dazzling
array of colours and cuts that are available for CZ stones. For example,
amethyst, violet, and lavender cubic zirconia are all shades of purple, while
aqua and tanzanite are gorgeous shades of blue. Citrine and champagne are both
in the yellow-gold range of colours, emerald and peridot are green, and garnet
is a deep, rich red colour.
The colours of these synthetic gems are obtained by adding
an "impurity" to the CZ stones, such as a metal oxide. For example,
erbium may be added to create a pink colour, or neodymium might be added to
create purple. Similarly, chromium can be added to make loose cubic zirconia
stones green, and cerium may be added to create yellow, orange, and red lab-created gems.
Of course, many jewellery makers and consumers prefer the
brilliant clear cubic zirconia. Similar to diamonds, these white CZ stones are
graded according to quality. Cubic zirconia AAAAA is the highest quality,
followed by CZ AAA and cubic zirconia A.
Although the way a diamond cutter and polisher cuts a
gem-quality diamond is in large part determined by the imperfections of the
rough stone, those who manufacture loose cubic zirconia don't face the same
constraints. For that reason, the variety of cuts of CZ stones is remarkable,
as it the beauty and brilliance of the cut stones.
Some cubic zirconia cuts very much resemble those of
diamonds, while others are more unique. Loose cubic zirconia cuts include oval,
round, heart, octagon, marquise, square, star, pear, and trillion.
When it comes to lab-created gems, cubic zirconia is only
the tip of the iceberg. In addition to synthetic diamonds, simulated blue
sapphires, alexandrite, and tanzanite, all made from corundum, are also
popular. Likewise, simulated stones like coral, emerald, garnet, lapis, and
emerald have gained widespread acceptance among both jewellery makers and
consumers.
With the exceptional quality of CZ stones, their low
wholesale cost, and the incredible selection of colours and cuts, it's easy to
see why loose cubic zirconia is often the stone of choice for jewellery
designers and consumers alike.
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