Yes, diamonds are indeed beautiful. What’s NOT so pretty is the conditions under which they’re mined; it really takes a toll on the environment. This is just one reason why more sustainably minded people are opting for quality substitutes like lab-grown diamonds and cubic zirconia. Are CZ and lab-created diamonds the same? Nope, and Birkat Elyon is here to explain the difference.
Lab-grown diamonds essentially use a tiny “seed” of a real diamond, then speeds up the heat and pressure process they’d undergo deep in the earth to create a stone nearly identical to the natural version, with the same chemical composition.
Cubic zirconia is also artificially generated, but from carbon and zirconium dioxide. While diamonds (natural or lab-generated) will often have some little flaws, CZs have astonishing clarity. Because they’re manmade, both will be less expensive than real diamonds, although cubic zirconia has the advantage in that department.
Lab-grown diamonds are quality-rated in the same way as real ones. On the other hand, cubic zirconia jewelry is rated differently (because they’re manmade). Look for a quality scale that runs from A to AAAAA, with the 5A rating being the best.
Both types of manmade stones are durable and can handle the usual wear and tear of everyday life. But if you somehow lose a cubic zirconia ring, you won’t be out the kind of money you would be with a real diamond. That’s one reason so many smart couples also opt for pieces like cz engagement and wedding rings, cubic zirconia bracelets, or cubic zirconia earrings. There are so many dazzling ways to wear it, on special days like a wedding or just for a special night out.
And because it’s so affordable, you can splurge a little! Have a look at the full selection of beautiful cz jewelry we have at Birkat Elyon.