Cubic Zirconia High Quality Gems

Cubic zirconia, or CZ, is a crystal form of zirconium dioxide. It is a synthetic gemstone with a hard structure and is available in different colors and shapes.

Cubic zirconia is not the same as a zirconium silicate, even if they share a main element. The gemstone comes in handy for several purposes and is a major feature in low to medium-cost jewelry.

Over time, the gemstone has become an alternative for buyers unable to purchase expensive diamond jewelry. It is a preferred option due to its likeness to real diamonds, its isometric form, monoclinic design, and other unique features. Cubic Zirconia High Quality Gems

In this article, we’ll get to see lots more details about the gemstone like its composition, uses, history, maintenance tips, and much more.

History of Cubic Zirconia

The first kind of cubic zirconia was discovered in 1892 in a natural form of baddeleyite – one of CZ’s rarest crystals. Synthesis of cubic zirconia will not happen until the 1920s when scientists were able to stabilize its artificial production in a lab.

Later on, Russian scientists perfected as synthesis technique capable of mass-producing cubic zirconia. The first batch of mass-produced cubic zirconia became widely available in Russia from 1977.

Mass production of cubic zirconia has become so successful ever since the 70s, and many jewelers rarely prefer the more expensive, hard-to-find natural variant.

How to Make Cubic Zirconia

Skull-melting is the primary method ideal to create cubic zirconia crystals. The method involves mixing zirconium oxide with a stabilizer in a cold crucible. Other stabilizers like magnesium or calcium might also work in this process.

The mixture is heated to about 4,982ºF and then allowed to cool and stabilize after crystals form. After cooling, the crystals are then cut, polished, or prepared for commercial use.