You will see that the diamond has white or silvery sparkles only. However, cubic zirconia will give out colourful sparkles such as red, yellow or blue. Another important differentiating feature between these two stones is that a diamond possesses sharp facets, whereas a zirconium does not have sharp facets.
If you turn both a diamond and a CZ upside down, the bottom of a diamond will give off the entire rainbow of color reflections, whereas CZs usually have more exclusively orange and blue flashes. This is because cubic zirconias and diamonds have different refractive indexes.
Under natural light, diamonds give off white light. Cubic zirconia will show more fire. Both effects are beautiful and depend on personal preference. If you're looking for that telltale diamond sparkle, however, you won't find it in a cubic zirconia stone.
Cubic Zirconia, also known as CZs, are manufactured gemstones that look similar to diamonds. They are colorless gemstones made up of a crystalline form of zirconium dioxide. Most CZs are clear or white. However, their natural colorlessness allows manufacturers to color them with coloring agents.
How Can You Tell the Difference Between Diamonds and Cubic Zirconia? The best way to tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond is to look at the stones under natural light: a diamond gives off more white light (brilliance) while a cubic zirconia gives off a noticeable rainbow of colored light (excessive light dispersion).
Color and Clarity
Almost all cubic zirconia have a D color rating. Moissanite is rarely colorless or transparent. The stones usually have a tint of green, gray, or yellow - just like diamonds. Because of the D rating, CZs can look unnatural.
Over time, cubic zirconia pieces lose their shine. One of the most common reasons they dull and lose their luster is exposure to lotions, makeup, or hairspray.
Diamonds are a good choice for buyers who want brilliance and fire in a genuine stone that comes from a mine. They are popular engagement ring stones because diamonds last forever. However, if you want a lovely stone at an affordable price, cubic zirconia is a good choice.
Cubic zirconia itself won't tarnish or rust. However, a low-quality setting could potentially tarnish or rust. Low-quality metals are frequently used in cubic zirconia jewelry. Metals that tarnish or rust include copper, silver, bronze, and brass.
If you have a loose diamond to test, fill a regular glass about ¾ of the way full with water. Gently drop the diamond into the glass. If the diamond sinks to the bottom, it's real. If it floats at the surface or just underneath, it's likely a fake.
This involves taking the diamond and attempting to scratch a mirror. If it leaves a mark on the mirror, it's a real diamond. However, the quality of false stones like cubic zirconia and moissanite has increased, and many can pass this test due to their durability.
A real diamond will reflect light easily, and provide you with a disco ball or rainbow-like display. You can use a flashlight or lamp to do this and it will work best with white light rather than yellow. If the stone absorbs the light, then there's a chance that it's a fake.
Additionally, cubic zirconia lacks the brilliance and fire that a diamond has, meaning light passes through it differently than it would through a diamond. Cubic zirconia also has a higher dispersion rate, which is why it often gives off that rainbow effect that can make it look cheaper.
For example, Cubic Zirconia, which is a common faux diamond, ranks at a whopping 7.5 -8.5 on the Moh's scale, which gives it the ability to at least scratch glass at the bare minimum.
Though a version of CZ can technically appear in a naturally formed stone, it is extremely rare, and all CZs on the market today are manmade. CZs are colorless and look like diamonds to the untrained eye, but they do not have the same chemical makeup as diamonds.
The tendency for CZ to take on a cloudy appearance is mostly due to the hardness of the stone. At a hardness rating of 8.5, CZ will eventually accumulate scratches plus it may absorb oils. Also, if the back of the CZ stone becomes dirty under the setting it can lose a good amount of its luster and shine.
Water: Some water is OK and can cause no problems in your jewelry after years of exposure. Repeated exposure over time to other water can ruin gold, sterling silver and both real and artificial gemstones (including our 5A cubic zirconia stones).
Place the gemstones in a glass of water and watch. If it floats, then it is probably a fake stone. Real diamonds will sink to the bottom of the glass, while cubic zirconia will float to the surface.
While Hordern notes that a mild washing-up liquid is safe for cubic zirconia, she advises against cleaners that are more abrasive. "Avoid using 'dip' polish or abrasive jewelry cleaners as these contain harsh chemicals and can destroy your jewelry over time," she says.
Does Cubic Zirconia Shine Like a Diamond? No, cubic zirconia does not shine with the same brilliance as a diamond. Diamonds shine with pure white light, while CZ diamonds give off rainbow colors. They are also more prone to becoming dull and scratched over time, and are thus not the best option for daily wear.
Moissanite Arguably the best faux diamond in existence, moissanite comprises silicon carbide, which means it is almost of the same hardness as a natural diamond. It also has reasonable colorlessness, although the glow is far more colorful than what you would see in a real diamond.
Unlike cubic zirconia, Swarovski crystals can only be cut in a small number of specific ways and are much softer. They don't reflect the light well and only score a 1.5 rating on the refraction index so there's no comparison with cubic zirconia and Swarovski crystals have indeed fallen out of fashion.
Moissanites or white sapphires are most comparable to a diamond. While there are visible differences, these gems will look the closest to a diamond while offering a more affordable price. These stones are also high on the Mohs scale of relative hardness, making them suitable for everyday wear.
Cubic zirconia holds no intrinsic value. Yes, jewelry made with this gemstone will still go for a price, but unless it is set within solid gold, it is unlikely to do anything but lose value as time goes on.