Cubic Zirconia vs Diamond

20 December, 2023 — Articles

Appearance

At first glance, cubic zirconia can look very similar to a diamond. Well-cut cubic zirconia stones sparkle brilliantly, just like diamonds. However, there are some visible differences:

Color: The best quality cubic zirconia tends to have a slightly grayish or yellowish tint, compared to colorless or near-colorless diamonds.
Brilliance: Diamonds have exceptional light-reflecting properties, so they tend to look brighter and livelier. The brilliance of a CZ may fade over time.
Imperfections: Diamonds often have small internal flaws and inclusions. These are rarely seen in cubic zirconia.

Here is a comparison table:

Appearance	Cubic Zirconia	Diamond
Color	Near-colorless to light yellow/gray hints	Colorless or near-colorless
Brilliance	Very bright, but may fade over time	Exceptional brilliance and fire
Imperfections	Very few	Natural internal flaws and inclusions

Durability

When it comes to durability and hardness, diamonds are by far the winner. Diamonds are the hardest gemstone, while CZ are much softer.

Durability	Cubic Zirconia	Diamond
Hardness	8.5 on Mohs scale	10 on Mohs scale
Toughness	Brittle	Extremely tough
Durability	Prone to scratching and clouding	Excellent: keeps sparkle for a lifetime

This is why diamond jewelry can withstand everyday wear for a lifetime, while cubic zirconia may show signs of damage over time.

Value

One of the main appeals of CZ is its affordability compared to natural diamonds. Not only are the stones much cheaper to buy, but CZ jewelry is also set in more affordable metals and settings.

Value	Cubic Zirconia	Mined Diamond	Lab Diamond
Stone cost	Inexpensive, $10-$30 per carat	Expensive, $2,000+ per carat for quality stones	Costly, but less than a mined diamond
Setting/metal cost	Varies, mostly silver/plated metals	Gold, platinum, etc.	Similar to mined diamond
Overall jewelry cost	Very affordable, often <$50	Costly, thousands+	Costly, but less than a mined diamond
Resale value	Minimal	High, and tends to increase	Moderately high

So if you’re on a very tight budget, cubic zirconia presents an attractive sparkly option. But diamonds hold significantly more resale value should you ever wish to sell or trade up your ring.

Environmental and Ethical Factors

Recently, ethical and environmentally friendly sourcing has become important to consumers. Most diamonds now come with certification showing they are conflict-free and mined responsibly. The same cannot always be said for other gemstones like cubic zirconia.

Ethics	Cubic Zirconia	Mined Diamond	Lab Diamond
Mining issues	Minimal regulations	The Kimberley Process aims to prevent “conflict diamonds”	Ethical Alternative
Environmental impact	Low, but may use lead oxide	High without proper certifications	Lower, than mined diamonds, but still present
Social impact	Usually manufactured ethically	Conflict-free sourcing now prioritized	Ethical alternative