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Cubic Zirconia Jewelry Versus Diamonds Jewelry
http://the-real-way.com
Diamonds have been in use for jewelry for thousands of years. It is judged that they were first used and enthusiastically mined 3,000 years ago in India, but there is also evidence that it was used there about 6,000 years ago. In those days it was almost impossible to cut or polish the diamonds.
The popularity of diamonds as jewelry really rose in the Eighteenth Century, when more 'contemporary' techniques permitted the acts of cutting and polishing to be achieved more easily. Successful advertising tactics helped make diamonds more popular to the masses.
Cartels of diamond miners and sellers such as De Beers restricted the quantity of diamonds which has successfully held the price unnaturally high for decades. An example of extremely successful marketing is Argyle or brown diamonds in Australia
Brown diamonds were considered useless for jewelry because of their dirty colour. However, one mine in Australia produces 7,000 kg of brown diamonds a year, so began a campaign to make them acceptable. Nowadays, they may be worn as jewelry in Australia and sell nicely.
Because of the high price of diamonds and the restricted quantity, jewelers have sought a man-manufactured, cheaper alternative. Cubic Zirconia is one of the best man-made diamond-like substances that they have come up with so far.
Some people would rather purchase cubic zirconia than real diamonds because they do not want to be manipulated and ultimately cheated by the diamond companies. Surveys suggest that many diamonds have been 'altered' to raise their perceived value and that much too many diamonds are too highly priced.
Some others are shying away from diamonds for factors of conscience. 'Blood Diamonds' and forced child labour have made the headlines. The situation in these forced labour camps is abominable and was truthfully portrayed in the film 'Blood Diamond' with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Cubic zirconia is a very good copy of diamonds and is hard to distinguish from the real thing without specialist tools and a deep knowledge of gemstones. Numerous famous rich people are refusing to wear diamonds, not because they cannot afford them, but because of their above associations.
There are several other alternatives to cubic zirconia including moissanite and nexus, but cubic zirconia remains the firm favourite. Russian cubic zirconia is among the principal variations of the 'gemstone'.
It is worth stating here that cubic zirconia does not exist in nature, although its raw form zircon (zirconium silicate) and zirconium dioxide does. Russian cubic zirconia is made to the specifications set down by the Gemological Institute of America.
If you are happy to wear cubic zirconia, you will be following the green route in jewelry and saving lots of money too. Cubic zirconia is approximately 25% of the price of diamonds, so you can afford to spend more on the setting rather than on the stone. Cubic zirconia looks fantastic in a solid platinum or pure gold mounting.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a variety of topics, and is now concerned with Amber in Poland. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Jewellry and Watches.
Article submitted Sunday, December 18, 2011 & read 117 times.
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» left by Christofer French (150 days 9 hours ago.)
I love to hear about this "fake" diamond from a source like yours, instead of consumers just chatting about it. Thanks for this information.
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» left by Owen Jones(195)
Chris, did you get my reply to your question?
I sent it yesterday to :
charisconsulting@comcast.net
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» left by Christofer French (149 days 9 hours ago.)
Yes. I replied. Thanks much for your information.
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