As one of the industry’s foremost cubic zirconia jewelry manufactures we work hard to educate our customers. Perhaps one of the most common questions we receive is: “how do I determine the quality of a cubic zirconia?” Because we pride ourselves on the superior quality of each and every stone we produce, we are always happy to explain that there is in fact a wide variance.
Hand-Cut vs. Machine-Cut Cubic Zirconia
First, it’s important to understand the vast difference in hand-cut cubic zirconia versus machine-cut. Machine-cut cubic zirconia stones are mass-produced, which scarifies quality and clarity. Hand-cut cubic zirconia stones are individually cut with great precision. Each stone is painstaking cut, by highly trained professionals, giving them the brilliance of fine diamonds.
Machine-Cut Rating System: A, AA, AAA, AAAA, AAAAA
Though the A rating system is an industry standard, it is only applicable to machine cut cubic zirconia stones. Rated from lowest quality grade to highest, A, or 1A, are considered the lowest grade of machine-cut CZ while AAAAA, or 5A, are considered the very best. Rated based upon hardness, 5A cubic zirconia have a hardness of 8.5.
Hand-Cut CZ Stones Quality
While 5A is the best grade among machine-cut CZ, our hand-cut CZ are of much higher quality. Though hand-cut CZ are considered the highest quality, it’s important to keep in mind that not every hand-cut CZ is considered top quality. Hand-cut cubic zirconia quality is dependent on the technique and the experience of the professional cutting the stone. A hand-cut CZ, cut with improper technique will not have the brilliance of a diamond. This is why it’s so important, when shopping for hand-cut cz, to purchase from a reputable jeweler who guarantees the quality of their stones. If cut properly, a hand-cut cubic zirconia will have the same luminocity of fine diamonds.
If you’re currently shopping for a high-quality cubic zirconia, be sure to keep each of these points in mind. Though there are superior machine-cut cz stones available, they do not have the same brilliance or quality of hand-cut cubic zirconia. If you’re looking to invest in a piece that will truly have the look and feel of fine diamonds, we encourage you to choose hand-cut cz. Want to know more about selecting quality cz jewelry? Follow the Birkat Elyon Blog, subscribe to our newsletter and share your questions below. We’re here to help you select from the very best cubic zirconia jewelry in the world!