Whats the difference between a real diamonds and cubic zirconia?

Question

I found this 18ct white gold pendant and it has very tiny Cubic Zirconia stones in it. So since its not real diamonds, is it worth spending £75 for it?

Answer 1

CZ is a lab created synthetic stone with a relatively low cost while diamonds are found in nature, and very expensive!  Modern technology has advanced to the point it is very difficult to tell diamonds and cubic zirconia apart.  So only you will know!  If it doesn't bother you that they aren't real, go ahead!  The pendant is probably pricey simply for the fact that it is 18ct white gold.  White gold is often more expensive than yellow gold.

Answer 2

A lot of people have answered your question and they are right - CZ is artificially made, and therefore flawless. Diamonds are more expensive. Ordinary people can't tell the difference.

For a more detailed comparison of diamond and zircon in terms of material, hardness, dispersion, conductivity, refractive index etc. Diffen it at http://diffen.com/difference/Cubic_Zirco...

Answer 3

Diamond is made of carbon.  Cubic zircon is made of zirconium oxide.  Diamonds are harder and slightly paler, but you need to look at them very closely to tell the difference.  After a few years, zirconia starts to wear and loses its sparkle.

Answer 4

If it is very pretty and real white gold then yes.  The gold is worth money and you pay for beauty.

Answer 5

Well, diamonds are harder and composed of carbon. Cubic zirconia is sparklier and softer, and not made of carbon. Diamonds are worth more. But in this case, you aren't really paying for the sparklies. You're paying for the gold and the design. Whether it's worth it is up to you. Don't expect it to be any kind of an "investment", if you ever decide to pawn off or sell any piece of jewelry, unless it's a certifiable antique or something along those lines, you'll get back less than you paid for it, even if it is set with "real" stones. If you like it and can't find its equal for a lesser price, buy it.

Answer 6

I believe natural Cubic Zirconia crystals are very small..  Anything that you see in jewelry I believe had to be lab crated..   Its still a real stone with all the same properties of natural cubic zirconia but its not natural..  Diamonds are just friggin awesome and cost a h**l of a lot more...

Answer 7

they look identical and they're about 1/10th the cost, so why not ?..my wife has a cubic zirc ring, people are alays saying how much they love her ring, they think it's real diamonds and she doesn't tell them it's not...  

Answer 8

One is a diamond mined in Africa by slave labor and the other is made in a lab by scientists. Sure, it's worth 75, you r paying for the gold mostly.

Edit: I seriously doubt that any of your friends will be able to tell the difference between a CZ and a natural diamond.

Answer 9

cubic zirconia is basically glass whereas diamonds are precious and made from compressed carbon.

Cubic Z's are worthless whereas diamonds are $$$$.

You're basically spending that money on the white gold.

Hope this helps xx

Answer 10

A whole lot of cash!

Answer 11

Cubic zirconia is visually flawless and therefore is technically the superior gem, but DeBeers has brainwashed people into believing that they should shun everything that isn't natural diamond because they have a monopoly on natural diamonds...so since cubic zirconia can be created in labs in threatens their heavy pockets!

Answer 12

I would say no. Real diamonds are found. Cubic Zirconia are lab created.

Answer 13

It takes millions of years to make a diamond but cz's are manufactured. I absolutely love diamonds and personally would prefer them every time,(not that I have loads of them though lol ) but if the pendant is pretty then buy it. If its worth £75 to you then that's all that matters.  

Answer 14

zirconia is like plastic and a diamond is a diamond

Answer 15

homeboy aint got no CUBIC ZIRCONIA in hiz grill na dats whats up

Answer 16

One is a real stone, the other is man-made (fake). And value wise well they aren't going up in price.

Answer 17

does it matter how much- you FOUND it

greed will out

Answer 18

Value is only in the minds of shallow people! If you think it's pretty, buy it!

Answer 19

cubic zirconia are factory made diamonds.  Pretty much flawless stones but not natural.  Probably not worth 75 but it would look good.

Answer 20

Well,

In my opinion based on what I know,

I know that real diamonds have no specs in them, no sure on Cubic Zirconia, but I also know that they are manufacturing diamonds and that now have only one difference between real ones and fake. That difference being time!

As a result I have lost faith in diamonds completly but never liked them anyway!

I think the true value is how much you like it!

Answer 21

ONE IS REAL ONE IS NOT A REAL DIAMOND EXPERT KNOWS THIS BY LOOKING AT THE CLARITY OF THE STONE

Answer 22

The CZs don't have any real value, so the value of the piece is really just the gold.  I agree, if you love it, buy it--it's not a fortune.  I have good pieces and some with CZs and people can't tell which is which

Answer 23

Cubic Zirconias are man made, Aka, charcoal in a VERY high pressure tank, which also makes it kinda pricy, but not as much as pure ones. Real diamonds are made by volcanoes. When the magma is in its chamber, pressure builds and the result is pieces crude gemstones, and the pieces you see up for sale are cut. (This phenomenon is very rare, topped on with getting the gems out in the first place is dangerous. Jagged rocks, risk of eruption, etc.)  Real diamonds are harder and last longer, but always have a few irregularities. Cz's are much perfect, and has a different molecular structure. Be careful of fakes. Marketers sandwich 2 pieces of real diamond with a inner layer of Cz, and say it's pure.(it's almost impossible to tell apart if done properly) If you want to get that "feeling", you should invest on a real diamond. If you're on a budget but you still want to get a synthetic diamond, Yes, it's worth it. No one will be able to tell the difference, and is not produced by forced labor, usually a "way" to mine the diamonds in the 3rd world countries. (You're mostly paying for the gold.) They should also give you a certificate, while some give it if you "ask" for it.



           Good Luck on getting a gem ^^

                                                            Frozen Ice