How To Tell The Difference Between A Diamond and Cubic Zirconia

Diamonds are a symbol of life’s significant moments and their popularity will never wane. Telling the real deal from a far cheaper and far-from-perfect stone, like the lab-created cubic zirconia (CZ), isn’t always simple. What looks like a real diamond and is often used in fashion baubles, aren’t always used to “dupe” customers, but it pays to know the difference. 

Made of synthetic materials - zirconium oxide, magnesium, and calcium, CZ entered the market in the 1970s and is the closest thing one can get to flaunting a real diamond. The price for this ersatz stone seemed to be high in the initial period of its creation, but over the years the cost dropped drastically with mass production and use in cheaper jewelry. 

Here are a few things, apart from the cut, clarity and cost that can help you differentiate between a real diamond and cubic zirconia during your next colored diamond rings purchase: -

Cubic zirconia is colorless and flawless, the stone holds no tint and is smooth throughout the surface. A real diamond has a tint of yellow or brown and will have natural inclusions around the surface that are the true signs of the precious stone. 

Diamonds are a naturally formed substance in the Earth’s core, making them one of the strongest minerals; hard to break, or scratch. While high-quality cubic zirconia can pass many tests, it cannot get past the scratch test since they are brittle and prone to wear drastically over time.

While the two stones are strikingly similar in appearance they are composed of two distinguishing components - natural carbon and zirconium oxide. A diamond is heavier than a cubic zirconia due to its natural carbon composition, although a cubic zirconia is denser with no inclusions. 

Breathing on the stone is a simple test to find out if the stone is a diamond or  cubic zirconia. Diamonds do not hold heat, so when you breathe on the gem, it almost immediately clears since condensation does not stick to the surface. In comparison, cubic zirconia tends to hold heat and remains foggy.

Place the gem upside down on a newspaper or a magazine. You won’t be able to distinguish the letters due to diamonds' high refractivity, but you will be able to see parts of the print when it comes to cubic zirconia. 

It’s always recommend to shop from a reputed seller with experience and earned trust in the industry. At Gem Bleu we source authentic diamonds with a strict mine-to-market approach. Our owners are veterans in the industry with over 40 years of experience in ethically sourcing gemstones. From stunning diamond earrings, to artisanal yellow diamond rings our passion for fine jewelry is evident in everything we do. 

Visit our website to view our exquisite diamond collection and follow us on social media for updates and special offers.