Is there a difference between a man-made diamond and cubic zirconium?

Question

Is there a difference between a man-made diamond and cubic zirconium?

Answer 1

Cubic zirconia (or CZ), the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), is a mineral that is widely synthesized for use as a diamond simulant

Diamonds are made from carbon subjected to great heat and pressure.

Gem-quality diamonds are now being grown in laboratories in places like Sarasota, Fla., and Boston. Lab-grown stones are the real deal. And instead of the millions of years it takes to create natural diamonds, they're grown by man in a matter of days.

"We've essentially recreated the same conditions that occur hundreds of miles below the surface," says David Hellier, president of Gemesis, the Florida company that specializes in growing colored diamonds. "After about four and a half days, we get a three-carat rough diamond. From that day forward, there's no difference between that diamond and one that comes from the ground."

Even the Gemological Institute of America, the foremost diamond research and grading body, acknowledges that these are diamonds. "To say it's not diamond is really false," says William Boyajian, gemologist and GIA president. "It's just man-made diamond."

Answer 2

Yes.  A man made diamond is actually a real diamond whose forming process from coal/carbon has been mechanically speeded up.

The earths pressure on carbon over many years creates a diamond.  Man has been able to speed up that process, but they have to tell the buyer that it is man made.

A zirconium is another element altogether.

Answer 3

yes.. diamonds are diamonds, man made or not.. and zirconium's are a completely different kind of stone that just looks a lot like them, but isn't nearly as strong..

Answer 4

While cubic zirconium can have the appearance of a diamond, they are different elements. Diamonds are made of carbon, and cubic zirconium is made of the compound zirconium dioxide ZiO2.