Are you someone who is looking for an elegant yet stunning jewel to wear that has a similar look as that of a lab diamond but also won’t cost you an arm and a leg? If so, we have got a perfect solution for you! Cubic Zirconia. Now, you may have tens of questions in your mind related to Cubic Zirconia but stay tuned because we will answer all your queries in this article!

Firstly, we will walk through some of the properties and characteristics of lab diamonds and cubic zirconia.

What Is a Lab Diamond?

As depicted by the name, a lab-grown diamond is a diamond grown in a lab, simple! Its chemical composition is the same as that of a naturally occurring diamond. It essentially consists of Carbon.

How Is It Made?

Lab diamonds are created by a chemical process known as ‘vapor deposition.’ A lab-grown or natural diamond is placed inside a vacuum area during this process. Heat and intense pressure are applied so that the carbon particles fuse to form a diamond. This procedure takes weeks and sometimes months to complete. Once this ends, you get a fully grown lab-created diamond!

Did you notice how the procedure is similar to creating a natural diamond?

What Is a Cubic Zirconia?

Cubic Zirconia is Zirconium dioxide crystals. People usually use the term ‘CZ’ for Cubic Zirconia, and throughout the article, we will be using it as well.

It can occur in two forms: natural and artificial, although natural is extremely rare to find these days! They appear colorless and have a similar visual representation as that of a diamond; however, the chemical composition of CZ and diamond is different.

CZ is commonly referred to as synthetic diamonds because they are not natural.

Comparison Chart: Cubic Zirconia vs. Lab Created Diamonds

Feature	Lab-Grown Diamond	Cubic Zirconia Stones
Price	The prices of lab-grown diamonds are lower than naturally occurring diamonds. That is mainly because lab-created diamonds involve less labor and handwork and the process is just initiated and then left to complete itself. There are no tough mining practices involved, like in the natural diamond extraction process. Diamond of the same grade can be produced naturally and synthetically – however, mining will involve twice the amount of work compared to creating it synthetically in a lab.	These uber classy stones are even cheaper than lab-created diamonds! They need some pressure and heat in a controlled environment. Their price is directly proportional to their size. You can easily get a one or two-carat CZ for not more than $100.
Durability	You must be aware that Carbon is the hardest naturally occurring element on earth. Then naturally, a diamond will also have that property. According to the Mohs hardness scale, lab-grown diamonds are also given a ten on ten. Diamonds are extremely hard to break. Even if you wear it while doing some physically engaging activities that might break things, the diamond won’t break even a little.	CZs are given a rating of 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It is an everyday wear stone, and if you use it very roughly, it might get some scratches. So, you should make sure to handle it with care and clean it often.
Clarity	Lab-grown diamonds aren’t free from imperfections and inclusions, just like regular, naturally occurring diamonds. These marks and blemishes on the lab diamond can cause its grade to fall. The grading is done from F1 (flawless) to (I3) included, where F1 is the clearest diamond while I3 has the most imperfections.	These are made by advanced technologies and not by natural processes or assimilation of particles; hence the chances of inclusions and imperfections are lowered to zero.
Carat	A lab diamond is less dense and will be lighter than a CZ. However, its size might be bigger.	Compared to a lab diamond, CZ is denser and thus heavier and has a small visual appearance than the lab-grown diamond.
Quality Grade	The quality grades of lab diamonds aren’t the same as that of CZs.	CZs are graded using grades 1A and 5A, where 5As are the best quality diamonds, and 1A are the worst. There is also one grade, 3A (AAA), and you can get a decent quality diamond in this grade. However, these grades are commonly used by retailers and clients in the wholesale markets and not in the usual shops.
Color	Mostly lab-created diamonds have a yellowish tint, while some are almost colorless. It is extremely rare to find a fully colorless, transparent diamond, which is rare and extremely expensive. The high price of colorless diamonds makes people go for the almost colorless (graded G or J) diamonds.	Since they are artificial, they are made colorless. However, some might be colored, but that is totally up to the manufacturer.

Final Thoughts: Cubic Zirconia vs. Lab-Created Diamonds

If you are on a tight budget and want to get a diamond badly, then CZ should be your top pick! It looks the same to the untrained eye and has almost the same sparkle and brilliance as a diamond. But, if you want to get an actual diamond that is colorless and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, you should go for the lab-grown diamond. 

FAQs on Cubic Zirconia and Lab Diamonds

Q) Can you wear cubic zirconia every day?

Ans. Yes, you can wear it every day. It is a daily wear diamond and can last up to two to three years if you handle it carefully. If you keep cleaning it regularly and wear it occasionally, it can even last for five years.

Q) How to take care of cubic zirconia?

Ans. Rinse the gemstone with lukewarm water and soap. After cleaning it, use a towel and dry it gently, and also remember to clean the soap scums built upon the diamond’s body during rinsing.

Q) Can you shower while wearing cubic zirconia?

Ans. You can shower while wearing it; however, it is not recommended. To make sure that your gemstone lasts for a long time, you should take it off before taking a shower.

Q) Does cubic zirconia scratch easily?

Ans. Yes, even though it is a really hard substance, it can get scratched by harder objects.

Q) What is the best size for cubic zirconia stone?

Ans. Getting a one or two-carat CZ stone would be the ideal deal! Buying CZ of 1 or 2-carat is recommended since smaller stones have more clarity and look natural. On the other hand, heavier CZ stones will have a high chance of looking fake, so if you want a stone similar to a diamond, go for a smaller CZ stone.

Q) How to spot the difference between cubic zirconia and lab-created diamond?

Ans. Cubic Zirconia and Lab-created diamonds look almost identical to the untrained eye, and it is hard to tell the difference. However, if you scrutinize the CZ closely, you might be able to see the strong, seven-colored hues shining off a CZ stone.