Cubic Zirconia Jewelry – Buying Guide and Maintenance

cubic zirconia earrings

Cubic Zirconia also called ‘artificial diamond’ is the best alternative for diamonds. It is more affordable and has smoother, rounder cut edges as compared to the sharp facets of diamond cuts.Cubic Zirconia (CZ) crystals are synthetic stones made by heating up melted Zirconium Dioxide and powdered Zirconium to almost 3,000 degrees. They are flawless, refracts minimum white light, and typically colorless.

Types of Cubic Zirconia

Ranging from low quality to high quality, Cubic zirconia jewelry can be graded from ‘A’ to ‘AAAAA’. ‘A’ grade crystals are the cheapest and generally used as fashion accessories or dance costumes. ‘AAA’ grade crystals are mostly used by jewelry brands. ‘AAAAA’ grade crystals are the most expensive and make for the best quality substitute to diamonds.

This grading is based upon the ‘four Cs’, namely, cut, color, clarity, and karat.

• Cut- CZ can be cut in any desired shape. Heart shaped cut, brilliant cut, trilliantcut, and princes' cut are some of the most fashionable cuts for CZ crystals.
• Colour- Though mostly colorless, by adding suitable metal oxides, it can be manufactured in various colors.
• Clarity- It is the ‘degree of transparency’. Since they are manufactured in a laboratory, most crystals are not always clear. The clearer the crystal is, the higher quality it has.
• Carat- Larger crystals are more valuable than small crystals owing to its weight and durability.

Benefits of Cubic Zirconia Jewelry:

Cubic Zirconia crystals, though lacking behind on matters like resilience and sturdiness, come with a lot of advantages as wholesale cubic zirconia jewelry.

• Reasonable Price: Most importantly, it helps you save a lot of money while providing the best quality designs and the typical alluring look associated with diamonds. It costs about one-tenth of a diamond.
• Flawless: Almost all diamonds or natural gemstones have blemishes or small insertions, but cubic zirconia doesn’t.
• Colorless: CZ can be manufactured in an absolutely colorless form. Entirely white diamonds, however, are extremely rare.
• Environment-Friendly: As compared to diamonds, it is a lot environment-friendly in terms of manufacture and usage.
• Ideal Travel Replacement: When traveling, you would not want to take your real diamonds with you. To avoid risks and yet sport the refined look, wholesale cubic zirconia jewelry is the right way to go.

Buying Guide for Cubic Zirconia Jewelry:

Selecting the perfect piece of CZ jewelry might seem like a tough task, but with the following guidelines, you can choose your suitable accessory accordingly.

Setting:

While picking CZ jewelry, the most important thing is to notice the metal it is set in. Cheaper pieces are more likely to be set in plated metals such as rhodium or tungsten carbide which may tarnish in due course. Nickel can also react with the skin and leave behind marks where it had been worn. Since CZ is mostly appreciated for its high reflectivity, it works finest when placed in highly reflective metals such as platinum, sterling silver or even yellow gold for pieces like engagement rings, etc.

Stainless Steel is another great option for people with sensitive skin since it won’t tarnish or cause any allergic reaction.

Design:

CZ comes in various styles to suit various occasions. Classic jewelry such as ‘dainty CZ rings’ or ‘stud earrings’ that are solitaires can be teamed with casual wear.Fashion jewelry like statement neckpieces, chandelier earrings or heavy rings is ideal for CZ crystals because of its bright colors and natural sparkle. CZ is often paired with emerald, opal and other gems and designed with floral patterns, nouveau styles or swirling lines to draw maximum attention.

Colours:

Although mostly preferred as colorless, color is a vital point in wholesale cubic zirconia jewelry because of the unique styles it offers. Various shades of pinks, greens, blues or reds can be scattered in multiple stones or situated in a solitaire setting to enhance the use of colors. Choose the right kind of jewelry to go with your clothing. For instance, select a pop color to go with a neutral colored outfit or coordinate a primary color with other colored CZ for a trendy look.

Quality:

After you’ve decided the type of CZ you want, check for the quality grading by establishing the cut, karat, and clarity factors.

Steps Needed for Maintenance of Cubic Zirconia Jewelry:

Cubic Zirconia is very hard in nature, scoring an 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, second only to diamond which is a 10. However, it is still at risk of scratches or rust or chips. Avoiding bumps from hitting against walls or doors is the first step towards maintaining your CZ jewelry.

Additionally, beauty products and household items can also mar its surface when kept in direct contact with the stone. Cleaning solutions, body lotions, hairspray, cologne, etc can form a coat over your ring which makes it look dull and is difficult to remove.Apart from getting your CZ jewelry cleaned by steam cleaners and ultrasonic cleaners by a jeweler every few months, here are a few home maintenance guides for you to follow:

• Polishing Clothes: Soft and spongy cotton polishing clothes work best when cleaning CZ settings. Rubbing the material gently over the dirt and oil is enough to get its previous luster back.
• Warm Water and Liquid Soap: Pour some liquid soap in warm water, use your fingers or use a soft brush to clean the jewelry thoroughly and rinse well to avoid any soap residue. It helps bring back its life and also keeps it new for days on end.For hard to remove dirt, soak the ring in two-thirds of hot water and one-third of detergent. Scrub and rinse after a few minutes.
• Jewelry Cleaners: Cleaning your jewelry after identifying its setting is important. Cheaper metals require more care as compared to expensive metals since they are more prone to scratches and dents. Use superior quality tarnish removers and jewelry cleaners accordingly.
• Storage: Where you’re storing your jewels is as much important as the jewels themselves. Soft pouches and foam settings in the jewelry box are great ways to prevent the pieces from rubbing up against one another.

Just like diamonds, CZ items need to be properly maintained and cleaned to preserve their original luster and shine. Thus, it is essential that you take care of your CZ jewelry for it to last you a good many years.

Source:https://pandkjewelry.wordpress.com/2017/10/06/cubic-zirconia-jewelry-buying-guide-and-maintenance/