In stores, we are often inundated by a flood of gold and silver jewelry which shine due to their clear or variously colored stones called zircons. In most cases however, these are actually cubic zirconias. In practice, the names of these two stones with a similar sounding name are often interchanged, but in reality they are two different stones that have very different origins, composition and value.
It might be surprising to some, but the oldest mineral on Earth is zirconium with the chemical composition of zirconium silicate ZrSiO4.
The first specimen of it was found in Australia and is estimated to be 4. Zircon enjoyed considerable popularity in jewelry in the s. The color range in which zircon occurs in nature is vast. Zirconium and its alloys have been used for centuries in a wide variety of ways. Zircon is a natural semi-precious gemstone found in a variety of colours.
The most desirable have a golden hue. The element was first discovered in this form, resulting in its name. Cubic zirconia zirconium oxide is a synthetic gemstone. The best way to tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond is to look at the stones under natural light: a diamond gives off more white light brilliance while a cubic zirconia gives off a noticeable rainbow of colored light excessive light dispersion. Common diamond simulants include cubic zirconia, white zircon, white topaz, white sapphire, moissanite, white spinel, quartz rock crystal , and glass.
Note that lab-created diamonds have identical properties to mined diamonds and will pass all of these tests. Cubic Zirconia: Diamonds Price. Cubic zirconia simulants are much, much cheaper than mined diamond. Toxicity Most zirconium compounds have low systemic toxicity due to their poor solubility.
However, some soluble compounds, such as zirconium tetrachloride, are irritants and may cause corrosive injury. In addition, skin and lung granulomas have been reported following repeated zirconium exposure. Since cubic zirconia mimics a diamond but is not the same material, it is referred to as faux, fake, imitation, and stimulant.
Cubic zirconia is beautiful in its own right and only becomes a problem purchase when it is misrepresented as a diamond or other gemstone. This natural gemstone is not very common, either.
On the other hand, cubic zirconia CZ is a newcomer to the world of gemstones. Though natural cubic zirconia was first found in the s, it was a rare occurrence. Scientists started experimenting with the synthetic variety. By the s they perfected the synthetic version of CZ and began its commercial production for industrial use.
But cubic zirconia clearly displays jewelry potential with its dazzling brilliance! Zircon is made of zirconium silicate, whereas cubic zirconia is made of zirconium oxide. Both of the gemstones are hard to differentiate from each other and are confused as being the same. This confusion is reasonable; after all, both gemstones nearly look like diamond, the dazzling April birthstone and share an almost identical name.
Zircon is a natural gemstone popular for an astounding optical splendor that resembles a diamond. This trait of zircon makes it popular among jewelry and gem enthusiasts. The unique characteristic of displaying fire and luster makes this gemstone optically similar to diamond. The luster and reflective quality of natural zircon are not far from that of a diamond. Apart from the colorless variety, zircon is found in various popular colors such as blue, green, pink, purple and yellow.
Zircon can be heated to make it colorless or to enhance its colors. The fact that differentiates a zircon from a diamond is the display of double refraction. Cubic zirconia is the most popular diamond simulant.
Used by jewelry manufacturers since the s, it is lab created crystalline zirconium dioxide ZNO2. When viewed with a naked eye, the look of a cubic zirconia resembles a diamond. This lab created gemstone is eye-clean, colorless and measures 8.
One property that differentiates CZ from a real diamond is its thermal conductivity.
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