Friday, July 10, 2009

Cubit Zirconia: What Is It?

By Neta E. Talmor

What is cubic zirconia? It's zirconium dioxide, presented in a cubic crystalline form. Generally colorless, this material is very hard and generally produces flawless results. It comes in many sizes, colors and shapes. Visually close to a genuine diamond, cubic zirconia has become a common substitute for many people since about 1976. Cubic zirconia can be used as an inexpensive replacement for diamonds in all kinds of jewelry, from bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings -- or just about anything someone would like to have with some sparkle.

But why not go for the real thing? Why not get a real diamond bracelet instead of a cubic zirconia bracelet. Although there are many reasons a person might give as to why they prefer the zirconia, it normally all boils down to money. The substitute for a diamond is much more affordable. A nice sized diamond ring could cost over a thousand dollars depending on the quality of diamond where a cubic zirconia ring could cost fifty dollars or less, even when placed in real gold.

You can find cubic zirconias in settings similar to those diamonds are found in, such as yellow gold, white gold, silver, plated silver or gold, and many other types of metals, too. Because today's cubic zirconias are particularly high quality, you no longer have to be left with the dubious choice of having to spend thousands of dollars on a diamond only to fear misplacing it or having it be stolen.

With just a little bit of money invested in cubic zirconia, you probably feel better about wearing your jewelry in public, too. Let's face it; if you're wearing a large and expensive real diamond (or several), how safe are you going to feel wearing it out in public? That's why many people keep it safe at home or in a safe, and only wear it for special occasions. That's not a concern with cubic zirconia, and you can wear it anywhere you want -- and even if you lose it, its replacement cost is modest.

In addition, if you're thinking about diamond jewelry for young people, such as a young girl who wants diamond earrings for her birthday, keep in mind that it's a pretty expensive proposition to give real diamond earrings to young girls who just might lose them anyway. A better bet is to give a young person some attractive jewelry made of cubic zirconia, and then save the real diamonds for later, when they're older and more mature.

And with the advancements in the design and creation of this material, there are many people who find that they are unable to tell the difference between a real diamond and a highly crafted cubic zirconia. Generally only trained eyes can spot the difference. With this said, it is easy to see that people really do not have to worry about everyone knowing whether or not they have a diamond or a cubic zirconia. Only the people wearing the jewelry will know which it is.

Cubic zirconia "diamonds" can be found in many different places. You can buy them from catalogs, in online stores, and even some department stores carry this type of jewelry. Cubic zirconia is very affordable and readily available, which makes it a popular choice for many people, for a number of reasons.

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