The difference between baddeleyite and CZ is the way the zirconium and oxygen atoms are packed: the mineral is a monoclinic crystal and the gem is cubic (isometric), the same crystal structure as diamond. That makes CZ extremely hard—only diamond, sapphire, and chrysoberyl can scratch it. 5. (181 ratings) Color. Since CZ are synthetic, they can be made absolutely colorless. Diamonds usually have a yellow or brown tinge, the truly colorless diamonds are very rare. Definition. Cubic zirconia (or CZ), the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), is a mineral that is widely synthesized for use as a diamond simulant. Cubic zirconia is a man-made stone that is often used as a diamond simulant. It is composed of zirconium oxide and is colorless, hard, and flawless. Because it is so hard, it can fool a diamond tester. cubic zirconia (CZ) can be found in an inexpensive alternative to diamonds, which have similar properties. Although the diamond appears to be On the mohs scale of hardness, diamonds are the hardest at a score of 10, moissanite is around a 9.25, and cz is about 8.5. This means that cz's are the most easily scratched, and that's why they can get cloudy over time. Cz's actually have great color. They are usually completely colorless, while most diamonds have at least a slight yellow or Cubic zirconia is typically found in a wide range of colors, while lab-grown diamonds are usually clear or near-colorless. Cubic zirconia has a greater specific gravity (5.95) than lab-grown diamonds (3.52). This means that a cubic zirconia stone will feel heavier than a lab-grown diamond of the same size. One great difference between cubic zirconia and diamond is weight; CZ is about 60% heavier than diamond. A piece of CZ the same size as a one carat diamond weighs about 1.6 carats. CZ is also more brittle than diamond and softer. A cubic zirconia can be scratched by diamond , topaz, ruby or sapphire whereas a diamond can only be scratched by To the naked untrained eye, a Cubic Zirconia looks just like a diamond, but CZ is much more affordable. While a flawless 1 carat diamond would cost about $7, 000, a flawless 1 carat CZ can be Unlike lab-grown diamonds, which are identical to mined diamonds in structure and made almost entirely of carbon, cubic zirconia is made from zirconium dioxide. Russian scientists first discovered how to grow cubic zirconia in labs in the 1970s. Within a few years, manufacturers around the world were making their own cubic zirconia diamond Compared to diamonds, both moissanite and cubic zirconia are much more affordable. However, moissanite is often much more expensive than cubic zirconia. A high quality moissanite carat can retail for around $400 while a similar sized CZ will cost around $20 to $40. Cubic zirconia is generally worthless and has no resale value. This means that a cubic zirconia jewelry will be more durable when compared to a Swarovski crystal version. Cubic zirconia stones carry more shine than Swarovski Crystals. CZ is closer to diamond in shininess. Diamond has a refractive index about 2.4. Swarovski crystals’ refractive index is around 1.6, which is less than Cubic Zirconia’s 2.1. tJHMs2.