Whats the difference between cubic zirconia and real diamonds?
Q: A: Cubic zirconia is so optically close to diamond that only a trained eye can easily differentiate the two. There are a few key features of CZ which distinguish it from diamond, some observable only under the microscope or loupe. For example: * Dispersion. With a dispersive power greater than diamond (0.060 vs. 0.044) the more prismatic fire of CZ can be seen by even an untrained eye. * Hardness. CZ has an 8.5 to 9.0 on the Mohs’ hardness scale vs. a rating of 10 for diamonds. * Specific gravity. CZs are heavyweights in comparison to diamonds; a CZ will weigh about 1.7 times more than a diamond of equivalent size. * Flaws. Contemporary production of cubic zirconia is virtually flawless, whereas most diamonds have some sort of defect, be it a feather, included crystal, or perhaps a remnant of an original crystal face (e.g. trigons). * Refractive index. CZ has a refractive index of 2.176, compared to a diamond’s 2.417. * Cut. Under close inspection with a loupe, the facet shapes of s
