Jewelry has long been a fantastic way to express yourself and your unique sense of style. Longer than you may think, in fact. The earliest instances of jewelry date back over 100,000 years!
As surprising as it may seem, the answer is no. Diamonds may not be a girl’s best friend after all!
Cubic zirconia is comparable — and even better — in almost every way. But what makes it such a great choice?
Here’s a quick overview on why CZ wins the battle between cubic zirconia vs diamond.
Ethics
It’s no secret that diamonds aren’t mined in an ethical or morally acceptable fashion. Many diamond workers work hours on end with few or no breaks in poor and dangerous conditions.
And the reward their hard labor? Many receive less than $1 for a full day’s work, putting them well below the poverty line.
Some people even die in the mining process. It’s believed that up to 4 million people have died as a result of poor diamond mining practices.
All of that for a simple, shiny rock.
None of that is an issue with cubic zirconia, however.
CZ isn’t even mined at all, as it turns out. It’s a manmade, lab-grown diamond made from zirconium oxide, magnesium, and calcium.
When you wear a piece of jewelry with cubic zirconia, you can feel good about the fact that your jewelry comes from an ethical source using safe, humane practices.
It’s jewelry you can feel good about!
Cost
It’s no secret that a trip to your favorite jewelry store can get quite costly. But in the CZ vs. Diamond debate, which is better? Is cubic zirconia worth anything, anyway?
Absolutely!
Let’s clear up one common misconception right now: Just because cubic zirconia costs less than a diamond doesn’t mean it’s of a lesser quality than its high-priced counterpart.
In fact, cubic zirconia often looks comparable to a diamond, despite costing only a fraction of the price.
High-quality cubic zirconia engagement rings can be purchased — band and all — for $100 or less in total. In contrast, even the cheapest diamonds can cost $1,000 or more.
What’s worse is that there’s no reason for diamonds to cost such an exorbitant price. The diamond market’s price is altogether artificial, based only on profit, not value.
Durability
This is the only area where diamonds may have a slight advantage, but not without some major caveats.
Diamonds are near impossible to damage, ranking 10 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. That’s why diamonds can last decades without losing their shine.
But with proper upkeep and cleaning, it’s possible for cubic zirconia to maintain its great look as long as a “real” diamond. A few minutes of basic cleaning can keep your jewelry looking as good as new
And should a diamond somehow get damaged? Its value tanks immediately. Suddenly your multi-thousand dollar piece of jewelry is next to worthless.
But since the markets place cubic zirconia values lower, it’s more affordable to replace your jewelry in case of a disaster.
Cubic Zirconia vs Diamond: What’s the Better Choice?
As you can see, cubic zirconia is the clear victor in the war between cubic zirconia vs diamond. It’s more cost-effective, produced in a more ethical manner, is easily maintained and easy to replace.
So next time you’re browsing expensive diamonds, give it a second thought. Cubic zirconia is better in just about every conceivable way.
Want some tips on customizing your look with jewelry? Here are 10 current trends you should look out for!
