Since 1976, cubic zirconia (CZ) has been competing with diamonds on looks and beating them on price. Having diamonds in a wedding ring set can cost a lot of money, particularly if you want each ring in the set to have one or more diamonds. CZ is cheap enough that you can have several in each ring in the set and still not go over budget. This can make a big difference to the overall cost of a wedding, making it more affordable for the couple.
 |
 3 Pcs His Hers Titanium Sterling Silver Cubic Zirconia Wedding Bridal Ring Set  US $58.73
|
 3 Pcs His Hers Titanium Sterling Silver Emerald Cut CZ Wedding Bridal Ring Set US $71.19
|
 New Rhodium Overlay 2 piece CZ Wedding Ring Set Size 6 US $18.99
|
 New 14KT Gold Overlay CZ Wedding Ring Set - Size 11 US $21.99
|
 New Rhodium Overlay 2 pc CZ Wedding Ring Set - Size 6 US $19.99
|
 New Rhodium Overlay 2 piece CZ Wedding Ring Set Size 7 US $18.99
|
Colour
Almost all diamonds are not colourless, but have some slight colouration such as yellow or brown. A colourless one is very rarely found, and most will also have flaws such as crystal inclusions, 'feathers' or crystal face remnants such as trigons. CZ differs in this respect, it is Zirconium Dioxide in crystalline form, and is usually synthesized to be colourless and have no flaws. It can also be coloured by the addition of compounds such as Neodymium (gives purple CZ), Erbium (pink), Chromium (green), Cerium (Red, orange & yellow) and Titanium (brown). You can even have more than one of these colours in the same stone.
Appearance
There is a slight prism effect when viewing these stones that distinguishes them from diamonds, but this has been addressed by vapour deposition of a layer of amorphous diamond onto the surface. This reduces the prism effect and gives a more diamond-like appearance.
Hardness
When it comes to hardness (measured on the Mohs scale), diamond is 10 on the hardness scale and CZ is 8.
Sterling Silver CZ Wedding Ring Sets
Wedding ring sets which combine the precious metal silver with CZ have a contemporary look but without a large price tag.
White Gold CZ Wedding Ring Sets
Cheaper than platinum but with a similar look, white gold and CZ wedding sets also have a modern look. White gold is more expensive than silver.
Cheap CZ Wedding Ring Sets
The cheapest ring sets are those which use newer non-precious metals such as titanium and tungsten. Their natural colour is silver-grey but they can be anodized with a wide range of colours. They are hardwearing metals and are very fashionable.
For couples on a tight budget who would like the appearance of expensive diamond wedding sets without the huge cost, CZ is a great alternative. You just need to decide on the ring metal based on your budget, and you will have an attractive and hardwearing set that will last a lifetime.