What is a Cubic Zirconia?
Cubic Zirconia stones are a man-made diamond simulants with optical characteristics very close to natural diamonds. On the mohs scale of 1-10 for hardness, a CZ is 8.5 – 8.9, while a diamond is 10. Sand or dirt will not scratch a CZ or a diamond, but CZs and diamonds will both scratch glass. A CZ weighs more than a diamond, and this is a principal way to tell them apart. Back to top What are “synthetic” diamonds? Real diamonds have been created naturally through intense levels of heat and pressure deep within the ground. All natural diamonds are thought to be between 70 million and 3 billion years old. They are mined, cut and polished by highly skilled craftsmen, and are not otherwise tampered with. Synthetic or ‘cultured’ diamonds are created in the laboratory. All synthetic or ‘cultured’ diamonds must legally be declared as such. Carat Lane offers only are real and natural diamonds. Back to top What are “conflict” diamonds? There exists an illegal trade in diamonds in several parts o
