CZ Quality Varies

Cubic Zirconia is a man-made crystal, originally developed by the Russians for their laser programs as a less expensive alternative to diamonds. Since that time, the physical qualities of Cubic Zirconia have shown it to be a great diamond substitute for jewelry uses as well. Although Russia was the first producer of Cubic Zirconia and thus had the best quality in the beginning, other countries soon became familiar with the production processes and are now able to meet or exceed the Russian quality. High quality stones are currently made in the United States, Europe, Russia, and Asia. In fact some of the highest quality Cubic Zirconia is made by Swarogem, the Cubic Zirconia division of Swarovski, an Austrian company renowned for their superior crystal products.

What is considered high-quality Cubic Zirconia? High-quality Cubic Zirconia visually looks like a diamond. It is usually not the raw crystal that makes the difference, since that is produced in a fairly consistent quality. If the raw crystal is not to quality standards, it is not used. The difference is in the quality of the cutting methods. If it is cut to the same specifications (same amount of facets) as diamonds and fully polished on the edges like diamonds, Cubic Zirconia will visually look like a diamond.

The cut of a stone, whether it is diamond or Cubic Zirconia, affects its look and value. Low quality Cubic Zirconia is not cut to diamond specifications and will not have diamond brilliance. Cubic Zirconia cut to diamond specifications will look like a diamond and is considered high-quality. Because it takes more time and effort to fully polish stones, you will pay more for a premium product. The trade-off is to pay less but get a poorer quality of stone.

Cubic Zirconia is used in all price points of jewelry, from some of the most affordable to the most expensive fashion jewelry. While the cut of the stone is crucial in stone quality, the overall quality of the jewelry item is also affected by the finished product details, including the quality of the setting and the material (metals) used for the setting.

When considering metal quality, layered metals cost less and are designed for dresswear and occasional wear, while the solid precious metals may cost more but are better suited for everyday wear and when looking for a "real" look. Consider if the item is electroplate over base metal or vermeil (electroplate over sterling silver), silverplate or sterling silver, gold-filled, 10kt gold, 14kt gold, 18kt gold or platinum. If plated, is it simply a gold flash, or does it meet thickness standards for layered gold (stamped HGE - heavy gold electroplate)? If plated over base metal, is it white metal based (lightweight and cheap) or does it have a bronze base (nice weight but a little more expensive than white metal)? If sterling silver, is it rhodium finished to prevent tarnishing (increases cost)? Is the product nickel-free? The less expensive settings work great for fun and fashion, the more expensive metals will create a "real" look and are used for more frequent wear.

When looking at setting quality, details make a difference. Two items may have similar styling, but different costs because of the item details. A lightweight setting will cost less than a heavyweight setting. Snap settings cost less than basket settings. Soldered endlinks and jumprings cost more than unsoldered ones, but are more secure. What is the quality of the closure and clasp? On bracelets, are there safety catches? Also, flexible links are more desirable than stiff links, but takes more time to make and will cost more.