Here's another interesting Post brought to you by....Katherines Jewelry.
So what is the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia? Why is cubic
zirconia quickly becoming more popular as a desirable substitute for
diamond? Gemologists can agree that Cubic Zirconia comes closer than any other gem material
to matching the characteristics of a diamond.
Most people, even trained
gemologists, cannot tell the difference between diamond and Cubic Zirconia, with the naked
eye. Moreover, to the untrained eye, Cubic Zirconia looks identical to a good quality
diamond. However, under closer inspection, Cubic Zirconia appears to have slightly less
brilliance (or sparkle) than a diamond, and more fire, or flashes of color.
Cubic Zirconias were originally developed by the Russians, for their space program.
They were developed as an alternative to diamonds that were used in the optics
of their lasers. Cubic Zirconias have a refractive index, dispersion and hardness so close
to a diamond it's uncanny.
So what are some key features that can guide
you in telling the difference between diamond and Cubic Zirconia? Do keep in mind, though,
in order to accurately distinguish the two gems, gemological equipment such as
microscope, or loupe, must be used for testing and verification.
To
start, let’s take a look at the hardness factor: Did you know Cubic Zirconia ranges between
8.5 to 9.0 on the Mohs’ hardness scale whereas diamond, one of the hardest
materials known to man, is rated 10, lying at the top of the hardness
scale?
Furthermore, glass (or sand) is rated approximately 5 to 6 on the
hardness scale, therefore, dust and dirt will not scratch Cubic Zirconia. Indeed, Cubic Zirconia can
scratch glass just like regular diamonds, making it more resistant to
chipping.
One great difference between diamond and Cubic Zirconia is weight. Cubic Zirconias are
heavyweights in comparison to diamonds; a Cubic Zirconia will weigh approximately 1.75 times
more than a diamond of equivalent size. So basically, a piece of Cubic Zirconia the same
size as a one-carat diamond weighs about 1.75 carats. Well…isn’t that
interesting?
Contemporary production of Cubic Zirconia is virtually flawless, whereas
diamond usually contains impurities and inclusions, or have some sort of defect,
be it a feather, included crystal, or perhaps a remnant of an original crystal
face (e.g. trigons).
In regards to color—more precisely, the lack of
color—only the rarest of diamonds are truly colorless, as most have a tinge of
yellow or brown to some extent. By comparison, CZ in most cases can be made
entirely colorless, equivalent to a perfect "D" on diamond's color grading
scale.
Also, under close inspection with a loupe, the facet shapes of
some CZs appear different from diamonds. Both gems disperse light a little
differently. Dispersion is just a scientific term for the breaking up of light
into its spectral colors. With a dispersive power greater than diamond (0.060
vs. 0.044), the more prismatic fire of CZ can be seen by even an untrained
eye.
Dispersion occurs based on the gem’s refractive index. In this case,
refractive index simply indicates how much a beam of light will bend, based on
the direction in which it is traveling when it passes between two materials of
different optical densities (such as between diamond and air; or between CZ and
air). Being that CZ has a refractive index of 2.176, compared to a diamond's
2.417, diamonds are therefore said to be brighter than CZ.
Another
difference between the two gems is that CZs are thermal insulators—meaning, they
reduce the rate of heat transfer—whilst diamonds are among the most efficient
thermal conductors—meaning, they allow heat to easily pass through them. Without
testing the gems’ heat conductivity, it can be difficult to tell them
apart.
Remember, it is a 50/50 guess to identify a gem by visual
inspection; it is not a scientific method of authentication. That is why even
certified and degreed gemologists use gemological equipment for testing and
verification.
You will also be glad to know that CZs are not only durable
and inexpensive, but just like diamonds, they come in any color of the rainbow,
making them even more desirable.
There have been many instances to see if
jewelers can tell the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia, just by
examining the gems with the naked eye. Over and over again, it was inconclusive;
jewelers could not tell the difference just by looking at the gems. So you can
now understand why the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia rests in
the price, and in the mind
No comments:
Post a Comment