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Cubic zirconia vs zircon is a common comparison when shopping for a diamond substitute.
They sound similar but they are different stones.
They look alike on an engagement ring.
But their similarities stop there.
What is cubic zirconia?
Cubic zirconia is made cubic crystals of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). Its deposits are very rarely found in the Earth’s crust.
Thankfully, scientist have discovered methods to produce synthetic gemstones to meet demand from the jewelry industry and electronics. This latter is a big sector which often benefits from cubic zirconia’s superior optical properties.
Thus, practically all cubic zirconia jewelry are made of lab created stones.
Its production starts with zirconium oxide and continues in a sterile environment. This results in inclusion-free stones.
However, it is also possible to create colorful stones by doping extra elements to reach the desired color.
CZ stones are very popular in jewelry, especially for engagement rings.
What is zircon?
Zircon is a mineral which constitutes a basis for hard and transparent precious stones.
It is made of zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4).
Zircon stones are found in a range of colors, from white to green to purple.
And in most cases, they do have a cloudy look which calls for special treatment.
Zircon stones are often treated with heat to upgrade the look. This heat treatment is used to increase brilliancy and color.
Here, we’ll focus on colorless zircons or white zircon crystals to make a peer comparison with transparent cubic zirconia.
It has a refractive index below two and a tetragonal crystal structure.
This gemstone is almost completely man-made, although theoretically very rarely found in nature.
| Cubic Zirconia | White Zircon | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 8.5 | 6.5 to 7.5 |
| Density | 5.5 to 5.9 | 4.6 to 4.7 |
| Dispersion | 0.058 to 0.066 | 0.039 |
| Refractive index | 2.088 to 2.176 | 1.78 to 1.99 |
Pros and cons of cubic zirconia vs zircon
1. Hardness
Cubic zirconia is harder than zircon. Zircon’s hardness falls in the range 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. CZ has a higher rating with 8.5.
Thus, CZ stones are more scratch resistant than zircon.
2. Weight
Cubic zirconia is denser than zircon. Zircon’s density is about 4.6 g/cm3. CZ’s density is much higher with a 5.5 to 5.9 range.
This means that for a same volume of stone, CZ will weight about 24% higher.
CZ is also about 65% more dense than diamond.
3. Fire
Zircon has a lower dispersion index than CZ.
The latter has a dispersion index of around 0.06. Zircon has a smaller index at 0.039.
This means that cubic zirconia engagement ring will exhibit more fire than a zircon ring.
Cubic zirconia jewelry will outperform even diamonds in this regard.
4. Brilliance
Cubic zirconia is much more brilliant than zircon stones.
It has a higher refractive index than zircon.
So, in terms of brilliance, it will pop up more.
5. Price
CZ and zircon engagement rings have close prices.
Both CZ and zircon are well known diamond simulants.
They are both priced a magnitude below diamond in the gemstone market.
They have close prices that fit into your budget, so practically in terms of price, they fall stand next to each other.
The verdict: Cubic zirconia or white zircon?
Real diamonds are briliant and beautiful. That’s a fact!
But, a diamond engagement ring can push the budget a little bit too far.
That’s why diamond simulants receive attention.
A diamond simulant is a gemstone that has a similar appearance to a diamond.
The most common diamond simulants are swarovski crystals, white topaz, white sapphire, cubic zirconia and zircon.
You can check our post title Morganite vs Cubic Zirconia for another comparison.
The latter two sound very similar but they have different molecular structures.
Cubic zirconia is made from zirconium dioxide, while white zircon is made from zirconium silicate.
Both of these materials are optically clear and have a similar hardness to diamonds. They can be created in a variety of colors, including yellow, pink, and blue.
Simulants are often less expensive than diamonds, but can be difficult to distinguish from diamonds without specialized equipment.
Most simulants also have less sparkle than natural or synthetic diamonds.
When we look at the light performance of cubic zirconia, we see that it shadows even diamond in fire and brilliance.
Though it is slightly softer, it is definitely one of the hardness materials for jewelry with a 8.5 hardness level.
CZ stones are more dense than zircon and diamond by 24% and 65%, respectively.
Between these two alternatives, we would pick cubic zirconia mainly because of its superior fire and brilliance. There are a plethora of design alternative with different cuts, colors and metals.
Yet, in the end, it is your personal preference both white stones are popular options!