Cubic Zirconia— also commonly known as “CZ” though not frequently at this website, where we like to give a little more respect than lazily abbreviating everything— is often thought to be a mineral, since gemstones like diamonds are usually minerals.
Is cubic zirconia in fact a mineral?
The short answer is “yes and no”. A mineral is defined as occurring naturally. Therefore, most cubic zirconia stones used in jewelry are fabricated in a lab environment and are not classified as minerals. As man-made constructs of zirconium oxide created in high temperatures they simply cannot be 'natural'.
However, there IS a cubic zirconia mineral and it was first discovered in the 1950s.
What gets sold most often in cubic zirconia jewelry, though, is a man-made gemstone manufactured using a process first discovered by Russian scientists in the late 1970s.
However, as a diamond simulant and alternative cubic zirconia gemstones are without peer in our opinion, and for your money you simply can’t beat purchasing cubic zirconia.
That was today’s science lesson!
Remember…if you can’t tell the difference, why pay the difference?
P.S. If you have any questions about cubic zirconia that you want answered immediately and that we can use to educate others in a future blog post like this one just contact us and let us know!
