Cubic Zirconia
Unlike cultured diamonds, cubic zirconia (abbreviated CZ) is made of a different material than natural diamonds. It primarily consists of zirconium dioxide. Therefore, its chemical properties are close, but different from diamonds. While cubic zirconia has more 'fire' or light dispersion, it is heavier and less hard. In absolute terms, diamonds and cultured diamonds are about 500 times harder than cubic zirconia.
Telling the Difference
There are various claims about whether or not cubic zirconia can be differentiated from natural diamonds by the untrained, unaided eye. However, simple lab tests can easily differentiate them since they are made of different materials. On the other hand, there is no way to differentiate between a natural diamond and a cultured diamond. This fact causes great consternation to the diamond industry, which is racing to develop differentiating methods.
In order to avoid confusion and increase legitimacy, the companies producing the cultured diamonds are taking measures to mark their diamonds. For example, they might laser inscribe them or add trace impurities. Otherwise, diamond buyers would not be able to tell if the diamond they are buying originated from a natural mine or from a machine. A natural diamond might command a premium due to its ostensible rarity and the expense of mining it. An unscrupulous seller might pass off a far less expensive cultured diamond as a real diamond. Whatever risk the buyers perceived would directly translate into lower prices for real diamonds. Some buyers may not even care about the origin.
Diamonds are many things to many people. They are desired as objects that represent status, wealth, love, divinity, and purity. If pure diamond can be manufactured at a low cost, then the symbolic value may or may not change. What is certain, though, is that there would be economic benefits to society. The properties of diamonds, particularly hardness and thermal transmissivity, can be used in many applications, including semiconductors. Personally, I wear eyeglasses and I would pay a premium for eyeglass lenses made of diamond. Instead of being only scratch-resistant, they would be completely scratch-proof!
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There have been actual tests where cubic zironia diamonds have been taken into jewelry stores and the jewelers were unable to tell the difference.
My advice is this. Spend about 2 grand on a platinum band. Spend 50 bucks on a brilliant 2 carat cubic zarconia diamond. Give it to her.
Put the rest of the money in a money market account. If your woman ever says to you , honey this is not a real diamond, then pull the money out and buy her a large real rock.
I doubt it will ever happen and in five years you will have enough for your first childs first year in college.
