A: Cubic zirconia is both laboratory made and a naturally occurring substance. Some place its discovery as far back as 1892, with the discovery of naturally-occurring zirconium oxide, or baddeleyite (the formal name for the substance in the rough). But that’s a long way from your shiny cubic zirconia engagement ring! 

ASIDE: No wonder we adopted the name ‘Cubic Zirconia’, right? It’s got a pretty sexy sound, while ‘Zirconium Dioxide’ honestly sounds like a laundry detergent.

That natural form of cubic zirconia (or CZ, as it is popularly known) is so rarely found in nature, that you can assume the CZ you find in any piece of jewelry has been synthesized in a laboratory.  In 1937, German mineralogists in a science lab noted the presence of this substance as a byproduct of an unrelated experiment. Not realizing what they had, they didn’t even bother to give it a name. Early research sought uses for the substance in laser technology and other optical applications. No one initially realized the amazing potential of cubic zirconia for jewelry purposes.  

Cubic Zirconia (aka “CZ”) was relatively unknown to the masses until Soviet scientists discovered how to grow cubic zirconia crystals in a lab (on purpose, not just by accident). See question “How is cubic zirconia made?” on our FAQ for more details on how our company’s cubic zirconia stones are made. Today, the highest-quality CZ stones such as the AAAAA/5A cubic zirconia stones made for CubicZirconia.com jewelry are flawless, with brilliant sparkle, tremendous clarity, and radiant fire, good durability and hardness, and are visually indistinguishable from perfect and flawless natural diamonds to the naked eye. For additional details on the difference in our official CubicZirconia.com CZ stones versus other ‘cubic zirconia’, see frequently asked question “What does “5A quality” or “AAAAA quality” Cubic Zirconia mean?” and its answer.

A: This is a little complicated to answer, because the answer is ‘yes and no’. If by “mineral” you’re asking if cubic zirconia is the dictionary’s definition of a naturally-occurring, non-organic substance...then yes cubic zirconia (known formally in the rough state as ‘zirconium oxide’) is a mineral.

However, the naturally-occurring rough substance zirconium oxide is far from the sparkling brilliant artificial/synthetic gemstone we’ve all come to know and love in jewelry as cubic zirconia or CZ. That substance is cubic zirconia in its crystal form, designed by man and manufactured in a laboratory to look like a genuine gemstone as occurring in that form in nature. Cubic Zirconia made in a laboratory-- such as that made to be used in our finished jewelry and sold as loose stones from our website-- is of course not a mineral. Confusing? Well, read up on this and enlighten yourself.

A: For geeks like our CZ stones quality control team, here are a few physical properties of the cubic zirconia manufactured for use in our finished cubic zirconia jewelry, and sold as loose stones from our website:

• Mohs Hardness: 8-8.5
• Refraction index: 2.17
• Density,g/cm: 5.9-6.3
• Dispersion(effects of light): 0.060
• Melting Point: 2800 Celsius
• Wax casting: 1.0mm-2.50mm White CZ can accept high temperatures

A:  Cubic zirconia is a relatively dense substance (it is actually 1.7 times denser than real diamonds).  It is relatively durable and wear-resistant, so jewelry made with the best-quality cubic zirconia will last a very long time with proper care. In the Mohs Scale of mineral hardness, where talc-- the main mineral ingredient in baby powder-- is ranked 1.0, and a real diamond-- the hardest mineral on earth-- is ranked 10.0, cubic zirconia is ranked 8.0 to 8.5 depending on the maker and the manufacturing formula used. See our “What is the Mohs Scale of mineral hardness? Where does cubic zirconia rank?” question for a more thorough answer on that aspect of durability.

Please note that “cubic zirconia” is sold now by other companies than the official CubicZirconia.com-- and we are not responsible for their stones’ quality, hardness or suitability for precious metal jewelry such as what we create and sell. Inferior cubic zirconia may not be as hard and durable as it should be and what Wikipedia says the substance is since methods of making the raw materials vary and not every maker has the same standards, quality control, or integrity. 

A: The Moh's Scale of Hardness ranks minerals, gemstones, metals and other materials based on what material scratches what other materials, and what materials are scratched by it in return. Basically, a material can be scratched by anything ranked above it and can scratch anything ranked below it. The scale goes from one (1.0) to ten (10.0). At the lower end of the spectrum, materials are fragile and easily scratched. For example, talc (the soft material in baby powder) has a rank of 1.0. At the higher end of the spectrum, materials are the most-durable and hardest-to-scratch. A diamond has a rank of 10.0. Diamond isn't the only material that does fine for long-lasting jewelry, though.

Fine jewelers typically recommend jewelry to be worn every day should be made of materials with no less than a Moh's scale rank of 7.0. Our 5A (AAAAA) cubic zirconia stones rate an 8.5 on the Moh's scale of mineral hardness, just below ruby (9.0) or sapphire (9.0), and are harder than aquamarine, morganite and emerald (each 7.5-8); harder than amethyst, citrine, garnet, quartz, and tourmaline (each 7-7.5); and harder than peridot, tanzanite, opal or jade (each 6-7). Indeed, our 5A diamond-quality cubic zirconia stones are harder than most other colored birthstones! Cool, huh? (Wikipedia: Source).  Look at that...we made it all the way through this hardness question without even one joke about how hard most husbands’ heads are. Whoops.

A: Gemstones are formed by the crystallization of minerals, caused primarily by heat and pressure. Natural gemstones are formed when the heat and pressure are applied over time by the natural forces of the earth. A natural diamond mined from the earth is a natural gemstone. Synthetic (man-made) gemstones are formed when heat and pressure is applied to minerals over an often accelerated time period in a laboratory. 

A: Zirconium oxide or baddeleyite (more commonly known as ‘cubic zirconia’ or ‘CZ’) is a naturally occurring mineral. However, its natural form detailed in the answer for our “Is cubic zirconia a mineral?” question is not the same as the shiny and brilliant synthetic gemstone that gives genuine diamonds a run for their money in jewelry-making. 

In 1937, German mineralogists in a lab noted this substance’s presence as a byproduct of an unrelated experiment. Not realizing what they had, they didn’t even bother to give it a name. Early research sought uses of cubic zirconia for laser technology and other optical applications but no one thought about jewelry applications until much later. CZ was relatively unknown until Soviet scientists discovered how to grow cubic zirconia crystals in a lab. 

Cubic Zirconia melts at such high temperatures that no metal can serve as its container. The Soviets discovered the method of using a skull crucible-- which is a super-cool name-- that allowed the CZ crystals to grow successfully. Oh, those Russians! Their research was not published until 1973 (perhaps something to do with an unfortunate business called the Cold War?).

Nowadays, the cubic zirconia stones we’ve come to know and love are mostly all lab created (“synthetic gemstones”; for a definition on that, see question “What is the difference between natural and synthetic gemstones?). Cubic zirconia stones used in jewelry are mostly made in a lab using a derivative of the original “Russian formula”-- including the AAAAA (5A) diamond-quality cubic zirconia stones we use in our finished CZ jewelry, cubic zirconia rings, pendants and earrings. 

Cubic zirconia can be created in a wide variety of shapes (see “What shapes of cubic zirconia stones are available in your store?” question), many different sizes (see “What sizes of cubic zirconia stones are available in your store?” question), and an entire rainbow of colors (see “Do you sell colored cubic zirconia stones? What colors are available? Cost and shipping details?” question). This flexibility not only allows cubic zirconia to be the world’s best-known and most cost-effective substitute for clear, natural diamonds in jewelry-making, but also an effective precious colored gemstone simulant.

Please note that “cubic zirconia” is sold now by companies other than the official CubicZirconia.com-- and we are not responsible for their stones’ quality, hardness or suitability for precious metal jewelry such as what we create and sell. Inferior cubic zirconia may not be as hard and durable as it should be and what Wikipedia says the substance is, nor may other stones not sold by CubicZirconia.com have the same fire, clarity and brilliance-- since methods of making the stones vary and not every maker has the same standards, quality control, or integrity.

A: 5A or AAAAA diamond-quality Cubic Zirconia is generally accepted as the highest-quality cubic zirconia  stone commercially available in the world. It is flawless, with brilliant sparkle and has outstanding clarity, radiant fire, good durability and hardness, and is cut to ideal diamond-cut proportions and shaped facets.  

AAAAA or 5A cubic zirconia stones are visually indistinguishable with the naked eye from real natural flawless diamonds in comparable sizes-- even by seasoned jewelers and gemologists-- without the use of special props, equipment and/or testing methods. For a more in-depth explanation of this fact, see question “What do you mean ‘visually indistinguishable from real diamonds to the naked eye’?” and our answer.

5A/AAAAA cubic zirconia is what we make for use in our own precious metals Cubic Zirconia finished jewelry product line. It’s also what we sell to customers as single loose cubic zirconia stones on our website. To our knowledge, no better cubic zirconia stones exist.

A: Short answer? Not all cubic zirconia stones are made equally! Much of the cubic zirconia sold today is of inferior quality, and not made using the original Russian formula (see FAQ question “How is cubic zirconia made?” for more details). Low quality CZ is cloudy in rough form, and the ‘finished’ stones look little better. These kinds of cubic zirconia look cheap like glass and not like a real diamond at all. These cheap-looking stones can easily be damaged. You can see these stones for sale in jewelry sold at gas stations and in gumball machines. That’s not at all what we make and sell.

CubicZirconia.com uses only an improved version of the classic Russian formula for making cubic zirconia and we strive for a 99.99% purity level in raw material, and the highest quality cutting pattern for optimal shine and light refraction. Clear even in rough form, our stones are a world of difference from the cheapest of poor-quality cubic zirconia that (unfortunately) sets some people’s expectations about what Cubic Zirconia actually is. We are powerless to stop competitors from using the phrase ‘cubic zirconia’ since the trademark authorities said the term had taken on “generic usage” log before CubicZirconia.com wanted to trademark it. :( 

Still, our process makes all the difference in quality, clarity, durability, and brilliance of the finished stones. Of the five grades of CZ available—A being the lowest and AAAAA the highest—CubicZirconia.com uses stones that even surpass the industry standards for AAAAA. The 5A/AAAAA cubic zirconia stones that make it through our quality control process are perfect, with zero internal inclusions or blemishes (see our FAQ question “What does “5A quality” or “AAAAA quality” Cubic Zirconia mean?” for more details). The same stones we sell as 5A/AAAAA at retail prices on our website, are the same stones we use in our finished jewelry. To our knowledge, no better cubic zirconia stones exist. 

When you wear CubicZirconia.com 5A cubic zirconia stones in our gold, palladium, .925 sterling silver or pure 950 Platinum settings, not even an expert jeweler can tell you’re not wearing real diamonds with the naked eye alone.

A: We don’t have any “proof of grading”, documentation of any sort or any certification whatsoever for our CubicZirconia.com cubic zirconia stones, nor do we plan to secure one if such of value even existed. THere is not any independent, industry-wide and international authority on the making of diamond-quality, synthetic cubic zirconia stones for use as a substitute to natural diamonds in jewelry-making, thus any certification that any other company could provide would be worthless. Certification schmertification! Anyone claiming they have this authority gets nothing but our disdain (see our blog post “Certified cubic zirconia: IGI - IFI - GIA - AGS - EGL - CIA (or whatever stone certification)...we’re not interested” for full explanation).

The 5A/AAAAA cubic zirconia stones that make it through our quality control process are perfect, with zero internal inclusions or blemishes (see our FAQ question “What does “5A quality” or “AAAAA quality” Cubic Zirconia mean?” for more details) and the highest quality cutting pattern for optimal shine and light refraction. The same stones we sell as 5A/AAAAA at retail prices on our website, are the same stones we use in our finished jewelry.

To our knowledge, no better cubic zirconia stones exist. 

Yes, we can assure you that the 5A cubic zirconia stone(s) you're buying loose for setting yourself or already in our finished high-quality cubic zirconia jewelry is the very best cubic zirconia we at CubicZirconia.com can make, or have ever seen made. With the longevity of our site (online since 1999), and the reputation we enjoy from having served thousands of satisfied customers...we think that ought to seal the deal! If need be, we’ll even send you a sample pack of stones at our cost and risk to 100% convince you of the top quality of our stones. Just reference this answer and ask us!

A: Yes we do! We have hundreds of satisfied customers (including professional jewelers) who can attest that our 5A/AAAAA cubic zirconia stones are indeed of the highest quality. Whether they ordered finished jewelry pieces set with our cubic zirconia stones, or they ordered loose stones for setting themselves or for whatever purpose, one thing is consistent - they all love the quality of our cubic zirconia stones. People rarely return our jewelry or loose stones for a refund; if we get a return, it’s usually for an exchange to a different size/shape or both.

Don’t believe us? Read what our customers have to say about our products yourself right here.

A: We sell the highest-quality cubic zirconia commercially available, and yes our price for most single stones is less than US$50 (including our lifetime warranty for stones replacement). That surprises some customers. And as a customer such as a wholesale jewelry-maker purchases more stones, the price for each individual stone can fall below US$1. That surprises almost all customers. Yet those are the same 5A (AAAAA) diamond-quality cubic zirconia stones we use in our own  finished fine CZ jewelry, ideal cut and visually indistinguishable from a perfect, flawless diamond. Our stones are so cheap for three reasons:

1. There's only one CubicZirconia.com and we're it.
2. We believe in pricing based on our costs, not on “perceived value”. Sure, it looks just like a diamond some other jeweler is selling for thousands of dollars. But we can make enough of a profit selling it at thirty bucks.
3. A good percentage of people buying a loose CZ stone come back and buy jewelry from us later. It’s better than a business card!

A: We warranty all stones with a LIFETIME guarantee against breaking or chipping under normal wear. With normal use plus proper care and cleaning, your Cubic Zirconia stone should never chip, scratch or discolor. If there's ever a problem with your stone, we'll fix it or replace it at no cost. Just ship it to us and we’ll take care of your exchange. Guarantee details here.

A: You may have seen one or more companies advertising a “6A cubic zirconia” or “AAAAAA cubic zirconia” stone. While we can’t legally stop them from making their absurd claims, as far as we are concerned that’s not a legitimate claim to say the stone is any better than our original and perfected 5A/AAAAA cubic zirconia stone.  

It’s basically our industry’s equivalent of saying “Pfft. That 7 minute abs workout video is weak. Come here and buy my 6 minute abs workout video.” Hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right?

We do not acknowledge any independent, industry-wide and international authority on the making of diamond-quality, synthetic cubic zirconia stones for use as a substitute to natural diamonds in jewelry-making. So any “grading” is subjective. When it comes to our own 5A/AAAAA cubic zirconia stones, however, we can honestly and flatly say that to our knowledge, no better cubic zirconia stones exist.

A: Some CubicZirconia.com wholesale customers make bulk purchases of our 5A/AAAAA cubic zirconia loose melee stones for use in making their own jewelry. Other jewelry makers-- especially in developing countries like India, Brazil, and Mexico-- buy our 3A/AAA cubic zirconia stones instead. While the raw materials are the same for these stones, the AAA/3A quality stones are much cheaper bought in bulk because they have a lower quality cutting pattern (fewer facets, less light reflection). 

These AAA/3A cubic zirconia stones purchased by jewelry makers around the world are often destined to be set in mass-manufactured “costume jewelry” made with fake or plated metals and sold in the cheapest jewelry you can imagine. We don’t use 3A/AAA stones ourselves, just as we don’t make “costume jewelry” but we’re happy to have made a few bucks with our lower cost stones, and figure the world is big enough for everybody to do their thing.

A: Our cubic zirconia stones are supplied out of Guangzi, China. Since our site first went online in 1999, we have learned a few things. Today, as this is written in September of 2018 we believe our current chemical formula and manufacturing process develops the best cubic zirconia stones possible.

We will state it flatly: these stones sold under our “5A/AAAAA cubic zirconia” mark are the best available on the planet of which we are aware. Indeed, a lot of jewelers around the world have bought (and year after year continue to buy) their wholesale/bulk cubic zirconia stones through us so as to always get the same supply source that we ourselves at the official CubicZirconia.com most trust.

The stones manufacturing facility in China ships these stones matching our quality standards to our jewelry-making facilities in the United States where the finished jewelry mountings (ie: rings, earrings, pendants etc) are created, and where the stones are set into jewelry by our expert jewelers. See FAQ question “Is your product “Made in America?” question for how our finished jewelry products conform to U.S. government standards to claim United States origin.

A: Our website says “nothing we sell as finished jewelry is made in China” and we stand by our belief that many jewelry products assembled or mass manufactured in China are cheap and poorly-made. Our website also says our finished jewelry products are “Made in America” and that is 100% true according to the standards set by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Yet if you read the FAQ question “Where/what is your source of cubic zirconia stones?” then you know that we do not at this time manufacture our 5A diamond-quality cubic zirconia stones in the United States, but instead they are manufactured at our required specifications at a facility in China.

How do these facts fit together? Let us clarify that. These stones currently sold under our “5A/AAAAA cubic zirconia” mark are better than anything else on the market.  The processes for creating the raw materials, cutting, and polishing the materials into the finished stones product have been honed and developed over a long period of time and our resources in China are equipped to continue to handle this responsibility. We’re not required by law to disclose that to you, but we do. Haven’t you noticed yet that we at CubicZirconia.com aim to be “The Clear Choice™ for Cubic Zirconia” and transparency matters to us?  

However, for a number of reasons, we enjoy letting interested customers know our finished jewelry products are “Made in America” for these reasons:

-          All our jewelry pieces are made, hand-crafted, assembled and/or manufactured using the best of ethically-sourced precious metals within the United States, before being shipped from the United States to our customers both domestic and around the world (our shop management and repair facility is actually out of Kentucky; we also have a team making our jewelry in Louisiana).

-          Since the Chinese facility’s participation in our manufacturing process starts and ends with the production of stones and the price of each stone is so small compared to the value of silver, gold, palladium, platinum and expert-jeweler labor going into each of our finished jewelry pieces, the Chinese origin for stones used falls under the FTC definition of “negligible contribution”.  

Note: from time to time, in addition to finished jewelry products made at our facilities in Louisiana and Kentucky, we also license some jewelry items from other manufacturers-- but those are always either “Made in America” or clearly marked as made elsewhere.

A: We have cubic zirconia stones for sale in the following shapes: asscher cut, baguette cut (straight), baguette cut (tapered), cushion cut, octagon/emerald cut (step), half-moon cut, heart cut, marquise cut, oval cut, pear cut, princess/square cut, octagon/radiant cut, round cut, trapezoid cut, triangle cut and trillion cut. The dimensions, facets and sizes of our cubic zirconia stones are modeled on a perfect, ideal-cut diamond of the same dimensions (see our FAQ “How do your cubic zirconia stones compare with natural diamonds as far as cuts, shapes, facets, measurements are concerned?” question for more details on that). Click here for more details on cubic zirconia shapes and sizes. 

At any given time, we have a goodly supply of many sizes for each of those named CZ stone shapes, especially for our retail buy-one-stone customers. However, for wholesale bulk customers we do not always have in stock all sizes for all shapes for immediate shipment, and must make/cut some to order (see FAQ question “Do you sell wholesale cubic zirconia stones in bulk?” for more clarity on that issue). 

Besides those named CZ shapes, other cubic zirconia stone shapes in whatever size you want are possible through custom cutting (see “Can I order custom-shaped and/or sized cubic zirconia stones?” question on our FAQ).

The right center stone shape for a ring can flatter the wearer's finger and cause even the simplest of ring designs to stand out, much in the same manner as the right hairstyle does for a person's face. Not sure which center stone shape is right for you/her? Check out our article Which Center Stone Shape Is Best For Me/Her?

A: We typically carry cubic zirconia stones meant to be “center stones” in jewelry in sizes ranging from 0.25 carats to 6.0 carats including quarter and half sizes, across these most popular CZ stone shapes:  asscher cut, cushion cut, octagon/emerald cut (step), heart cut, marquise cut, oval cut, pear cut, princess/square cut, octagon/radiant cut, and round cut. At any given time, we have a goodly supply of many sizes for each of those named CZ stone sizes, especially for our retail buy-one-stone customers. We sell the stones and keep in stock mostly what we use in our own finished jewelry. 

A lesser array of large “center stone” sizes from 0.25 to 6.0 carats are available for these more rare shapes: baguette cut (straight), baguette cut (tapered), half-moon cut, trapezoid cut, triangle cut and trillion cut. For those, it’s best to contact us for details rather than relying on what the website says we have for sale at any given moment.  

However, for wholesale bulk customers buying 100+ larger center stones we do not always have in stock all center stone sizes for all cubic zirconia shapes for immediate shipment, and must make/cut some to order (see FAQ question “Do you sell wholesale cubic zirconia stones in bulk?” for more clarity on that issue). We also carry smaller melee/accent stones with sizes ranging from 0.75mm to 3.5mm including quarter and half sizes and quite a few tenth-millimeter sizes. Click here for more details on all our available cubic zirconia melee and accent stone sizes. Most melee stones are sold in packages of 10 or more. We have customers that buy millions of these stones (mostly manufacturers) at special bulk discount pricing we negotiate with each customer and customers who buy just a few straight from our website. 

Besides those named CZ sizes, other cubic zirconia stone sizes in whatever shape you want are possible through custom cutting (see “Can I order custom-shaped and/or sized cubic zirconia stones?” question on our FAQ). Not sure what carat size is for the stone(s) you want? Click this link to see a handy chart for cubic zirconia carat-to-millimeter size conversions.

A: It doesn’t happen often since our website is enabled to track our inventory and should “hide” loose cubic zirconia product options that aren’t in stock and disallow them from being purchased. That said, it does happen sometimes since humans like us run the computers and all humans make mistakes! If this happens with your order, we will usually recognize our mistake pretty quickly (within 24 hours) of your order. In that case, we will be in touch about your options for a full refund (order cancellation), substitute product (for example 0.5 mm different in size bigger or smaller) plus a partial refund for the inconvenience, or the delay y0u can expect beyond our normal 48 hours to ship most in-stock loose stones if you decide to keep your original order size. If this happens with your order, thanks for understanding!

A: Sure, you could! We understand that purchasing online can make it a bit complicated to truly compare one stone size or shape to another; when you’re able to hold the different stones up to your hand or setting and compare the difference, you can feel truly confident that your purchase will be 100% what you want.  Customers who are considering jewelry with different stone shape or stone size options often elect to buy the two (or more) different stone shapes to decide which they like best before purchasing the ring. 

We would be happy to help you choose the right CZ stone, and also help you return the stone(s) that you decided aren’t totally perfect for you.  Check out the answer to our FAQ question “What will a ____*****___-cut stone look like on my/her Finger? Can you help me see some of your stone shapes and/or sizes for comparison in my home?” for a painless and cheap way to accomplish a comparison of multiple stones, okay? Giving you a bunch of options to look at simultaneously while you paid only for the one-- and have promised to send back the ones we provided for free (we trust you!)-- is a lot less difficult for us to do than having someone buy 10 stones and return 9 for refunds! Contact us for details.

All stones returned will go through a thorough inspection process to make sure they are still in new condition before they go back into inventory (trust us, we CAN tell the difference if you are thinking about returning a lower cost competitor’s stone instead of the genuine stone from CubicZirconia.com...). You can read more about our full return policy here.

Who loves ya?

A: We offer a large catalog of the highest-quality loose Cubic Zirconia stones at wholesale pricing for bulk volume orders in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. We specialize in factory-direct pricing for AAAAA/5A and AAA/3A quality Cubic Zirconia loose stones for jewelry making and distribution, or small boutique jewelers seeking a trustworthy wholesale CZ product source.  

That includes what we feel are the best price-to-quality option on the planet for smaller melee/accent stones with sizes ranging from 0.75mm to 3.5mm including quarter and half sizes and quite a few tenth-millimeter sizes in between.  Click here for more details on all our available cubic zirconia melee and accent stone sizes. We have boutique jeweler customers who primarily buy packs between 10 or 10,000 small stones direct from our site and other wholesale jewelry customers that buy millions of stones in each order and negotiate the price of each shipment individually with our wholesale department. New to wholesale orders? Get started here. Please note: we do not always have in stock all center stone sizes for all cubic zirconia shapes for immediate shipment, or melee orders above 10,000 stones of a given size and must make/cut some to order. Contact us for details and with your timing requirements and we can help you.

A: Custom cubic zirconia stone sizes including huge stones like 25 mm, 50 mm, 100 mm and bigger can be made through our custom cutting program. There really isn't any upper limit on how big we can make custom-cut cubic zirconia stones. Simply tell us what you require and we’ll work with you to take care of it. Understand though, that unlike the loose stones we have on hand and in stock, custom-cut big size cubic zirconia stones will have a longer turnaround time -- usually 15-28 days once we are clear with you on the measurements you want. 

To protect the time and sanity of our staff--  and since we are pretty much the only reputable U.S. company offering such a service to make one or a few giant cubic zirconia stones for non-jeweler customers-- we require a deposit to exchange more than two emails about our large custom cubic zirconia stone cutting service and your needs/desires. We’ll answer your first question but after that we will ask for a US$150 deposit to be paid before talking further. We refer to this as non-refundable custom cutting fee. Custom cutting huge cubic zirconia stones based on sketches and verbal descriptions from a customer is a labor-intensive process, and often involves dozens of emails back and forth before everyone is on the same page...and we don’t work for free! :)

To discuss, you can just give us a call at our toll free number U.S. 1-888-355-2484 during business hours or email us to tell us about your custom-shaped and sized cubic zirconia order inquiry.  For more details and to get the process started, check our FAQ question “Can I order custom-shaped and/or sized cubic zirconia stones?”.

A: Yes, we can custom cut cubic zirconia stones for you in practically any shape or size you want. It will take a bit more time and cost more than a popular shape and size combination such as those we always have in stock ready to ship within 48 hours...but it is possible. Check out this blog post for details and instructions to purchase this custom stone cutting service.

A: We sure will. We are a full-service jeweler and would be happy to do that for any customer. To get an idea of pricing, check this page here.

A: In order to maintain the highest quality and consistency of our cubic zirconia stones-- especially in terms of cuts, facets and precision millimeter measurements-- all of our stones are machine cut unless purchased by special order. 

While hand-cutting natural diamonds adds to the rarity, uniqueness and price of genuine diamonds and other precious natural stones mined from Mother Earth first “in the rough”, that labor-intensive practice  is just not practical for cubic zirconia manufacturers to hand cut CZ stones. We manufacture in bulk using a chemical formula and scientific process, precision cut each stone facet, and perform a rigid quality control testing of manufactured stones to remove any imperfect ones.  Then we sell our top-quality CZ stones graded at “5A/AAAAA” quality for a fraction of a fraction of the price charged for a comparable sized natural diamond.

A: Laser branding or laser inscription is a common (but not general) practice of using a microlaser beam to inscribe serial numbers, company logos, and messages on the girdle of a diamond or other precious or semi-precious gemstone.  For unique stones that are serialized, the practice often is to laser-inscribe the stone and memorialize the serial number with a certificate/certification so future buyers and sellers may tell one stone from another. 

We do not laser brand or laser inscribe our stones. Do you want to know one of the biggest reasons ‘they’ do it? So they can “prove” to you that their expensive stone isn’t an inexpensive cubic zirconia that looks just like it. Cubic zirconia stones like ours are proudly man-made, already internally flawless without inclusions of any kind and cut exactly to the size and shape desired. If we’re doing our job properly, ALL of our stones of the same size and shape are going to be identical to each other and they’re ALL going to be perfect. Adding a laser inscription would actually make the stone imperfect, affecting how the light reflects through the stone at the point of inscription. Does it make the stone more valuable to have this laser mark?  We don’t believe so, and don’t want to pass on our logo ego to your perfect Cubic Zirconia stone.

In the same way we don’t sell ‘certifications’ of our stones (see question “Do you have some sort of documentation, proof of grading, or XYZ certification for your cubic zirconia stones? Other companies do!” in our FAQ), there is similarly no need whatsoever to visually mar our cubic zirconia stones with any such inscription, message, logo or branding.  If you want to make sure it’s a CubicZirconia.com cubic zirconia stone in any jewelry purchased from some other jewelry maker or private seller, we’re happy to sell you a flawless AAAAA diamond-quality CZ stone of almost any common jewelry size for less than US$75, with many stones less than $US20 each. The mere fact that you’re getting a perfectly-cut cubic zirconia stone from CubicZirconia.com-- free from any impurity (including any branding or logo inscription)-- kind of IS our trademark.

A:  Cubic zirconia is an extremely viable colored gemstone and birthstone simulant, in addition to being the most popular clear natural diamond substitute in the world over the last few decades. 

Yes, our stones team does regularly make and sell over 20 different colors of colored cubic zirconia stones including many birthstone simulants. However, available colors are practically unlimited although most customers usually stay within the color ranges of popular birthstones and real colored gems such as cubic zirconia stones that mimic the colors of genuine rubies, garnets, sapphires, amethysts, emeralds, etc. 

See below for our most common and most popular colored cubic zirconia stones.

Disclaimer: The color on your screen may not reflect actual gemstone color due to variations in monitors

  Pink Tourmaline simulant CZ      Turquoise CZ     Violet CZ   Yellow CZ

We can make and sell you colored stones in pretty much any color you want and any size too. However, traditionally the demand for all of the various colors combined is barely the same as the demand for white/clear stones we keep in stock ready to ship within 48 hours of order. Therefore, we do not usually stock as many shape and size combinations of colored cubic zirconia stones the way we do white/clear ones. So please understand that it will take a bit more time than white/clear stones and cost more too. Click this blog post to get more details on our colored cubic zirconia stone options:  Colored cubic zirconia options- Center stones, Melee/Accents (Single or Bulk).

All of these colored cubic zirconia stones options are also available to purchase for setting in an eligible jewelry piece purchased from CubicZirconia.com. Click the link provided for details on our colored cubic zirconia stone upgrade product.

A: The answer is no. Although cubic zirconia has been the most sought-after diamond substitute in the world for decades, these two substances are far from being the same material.  While the CubicZirconia.com CZ stone looks like a diamond and possesses many diamond-like qualities— to the degree that even jewelers with decades of experience cannot visually tell the difference between a high-quality CZ and a perfect diamond by simply comparing the two side by side with the naked eye alone— Cubic Zirconia is NOT a diamond.

It’s like a small kangaroo and a big wallaby, or a rabbit compared to a hare, or a small orange matched up with a large tangerine- - they may look the same but they’re not. You can read more about this in detail here.

Want to know more of the nitty-gritty about the differences between Diamonds vs Cubic Zirconia? We’ve got an ever-growing resource, with case studies and more, ready for your reading pleasure. Take a few minutes and read up, especially if you’re shopping for an engagement ring…after all, if everything goes right, you’ll only be buying ONE. And if what we’re telling you is true—and it is; our company will prove it to you— you don’t need a diamond engagement ring, when you can get a cubic zirconia engagement ring with a lifetime guarantee, and have no one know the difference but you (and those you trust with your secret).  Take the difference in price between a perfect Cubic Zirconia and an expensive diamond and spend for fun or invest for the future in ways that will satisfy you much more than a rock.

A: Physically, if you’re just going to stare at both stones with your naked eye, you’ll see no difference from our 5A cubic zirconia and a perfect, flawless and ideal-cut diamond. Even jewelers with decades of experience cannot tell our company’s 5A/AAAAA diamond-quality cubic zirconia apart from these best and rarest of flawless diamonds without using special props, testing methods and/or equipment. This is one of our favorite compliments from jewelers around the world!  In fact-- as you’ll learn at the link below-- the more perfect the diamond, the harder a jeweler has to work to determine if it's really a diamond...or one of our cubic zirconia stones!

These AAAAA cubic zirconia stones we make, use in our jewelry, and sell, are flawless, with brilliant sparkle, tremendous clarity, and radiant fire, good durability and hardness. 

Diamonds are universally measured against the “4C’s standard”: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight. All these characteristics can also be found in cubic zirconia stones. Let’s discuss how they compare in this blog post: The 4Cs of Cubic Zirconia.

A: An “Ideal Cut” describes a brilliant cut diamond that has been cut to exact mathematical proportions. An ideal cut diamond reflects almost all the light that enters it, and is among the rarest cuts. Each one of the facets are placed at optimal angles to create an ideal balance between light reflection and refraction. It’s almost universally considered the best cut for a brilliant diamond.

A: We mean exactly that! Our cubic zirconia stones cannot be visually differentiated from real perfect, flawless diamonds with the eye alone-- even by experienced jewelers and gemologists with decades of experience-- without the use of special props, testing methods and/or equipment. 

We only use the highest-quality Cubic Zirconia stones in manufacturing our finished jewelry:  diamond-quality CZ, the best grade commercially available, flawless, with brilliant sparkle, tremendous clarity, and radiant fire, good durability and hardness, and as mentioned our stones are visually indistinguishable from perfect and flawless natural diamonds to the naked eye.  

And if experienced jewelers and gemologists can’t easily tell the difference your friends and family won't know it's not a diamond unless you tell them. Cue the envy machine! 

A: We only use the highest-quality Cubic Zirconia stones in manufacturing our finished jewelry: 5A/AAAAA diamond-quality CZ, the best grade commercially available, flawless, with brilliant sparkle, tremendous clarity, and radiant fire, good durability and hardness, and as mentioned our stones are visually indistinguishable from perfect and flawless natural diamonds to the naked eye.  

That means no one can tell the difference between our 5A cubic zirconia stones and real, perfect flawless diamonds without special tools, testing methods, equipment or props. Even an expert jeweler or gemologist can't tell you’re not wearing real diamonds from just looking with the naked eye alone. And if experienced jewelers and gemologists can’t easily tell the difference, your friends and family won't know it's not a diamond unless you tell them.

A: First, let us clarify something: “Carat” doesn’t refer directly to the size of the stone, although it can be confusing because at times a stone’s carat weight and its size are used interchangeably. A gemstone’s carat weight is quite literally how much the stone weighs.  In an ideal cut diamond (a stone that is cut with the ideal proportion of length/width/depth and facial dimensions to reflect the best light), there is a standard length-to-width-height ratio as classified by the AGSL. The weight of a diamond is different from the weight of a CZ because of differences in density.  In fact, Cubic Zirconia stones are 1.7 times denser than diamonds. Since the carat weight of a gemstone is a function of its weight, the dimensions of a 1 carat real-weight diamond will not be the same as the dimensions of a 1 carat real-weight Cubic Zirconia. If using real-weight measures, a Cubic Zirconia stone that matched the weight of a 1 carat diamond would be smaller, more dense, and heavier. Our cubic zirconia stones are designed to simulate a natural diamond, but they have a different size-weight ratio.  When talking about CubicZirconia stone sizes on CubicZirconia.com, we will most often be referring to the diamond carat equivalent of that ideal cut diamond with the same millimeter dimensions as the CZ. 

This link explains why we use ‘diamond carat weight equivalents’ when discussing our cubic zirconia stones. In short, it’s to  account for the weight difference and to make life a little easier that Cubic Zirconia are measured in millimeters which references the same dimensions as a diamond carat equivalent with those same dimensions.  

We synthesize cubic zirconia to mimic a perfect diamond by taking the dimensions of an absolutely perfect diamond, measure its height and width, and voila – that’s the dimensions we use for an equivalent Cubic Zirconia. For example, an ideal cut Round Cut one-carat diamond is comparable to a 6.5mm Round Cut Cubic Zirconia.  In other words, a 1 carat Round Cut Cubic Zirconia made to be “1 carat diamond equivalent size” is also 6.5 mm, same as the diamond (it just weighs a bit more).

A: When we say our 5A diamond-quality cubic zirconia stones are “visually indistinguishable from real diamonds to the naked eye”, we mean exactly that. And one of the reasons for this is because the shapes, cuts and facets of our stones mimic how jewelry standards have evolved to cut, shape and facet genuine natural diamonds. 

Our stones can be made in any shape that a natural diamond can be shaped into out of the rough. However, there are around 10-15 shapes of diamonds that are most popular, and those popular shapes are what we most often use in our own cubic zirconia jewelry and sell as loose CZ stones. 

Our cubic zirconia stones are cut and faceted in the same way a similarly-sized genuine diamond is cut and faceted. This means an 8x6mm emerald cut cubic zirconia stone from our company will have the same cuts, number and size of facets, angles and millimeter measurements as a 1.5 carat emerald cut genuine diamond. The same goes for a 1 carat round cut diamond; our 1 carat round cut CZ will be identical in cut, number/size of facets, angles and millimeter dimensions to those of a perfectly “ideal-cut” round natural 6.5mm diamond. And this is true across all our available shapes and sizes. 

The only physical difference that can easily differentiate our cubic zirconia stones from genuine diamonds -- without using special tools, equipment or props-- is the differing weight of both types of stones. Cubic zirconia is naturally denser than a real diamond. Therefore an 8x6mm emerald cut cubic zirconia stone will be heavier than its size equivalent 1.5 carat emerald cut genuine diamond, although they will look practically identical. Same goes for our 1 carat CZ stone; it’ll weigh more than the 1 carat perfect natural diamond. See this article and size chart here if you care for a more in-depth explanation.

A: Since the cubic zirconia stones used for jewelry making are all lab created, it is easy enough to create “ideal cut” CZ stones that mimic a well-shaped, ideal-cut diamond. 

We aim for perfection so our lab-created cubic zirconia are manufactured to be free from impurities, with no inclusions or imperfections. Our 5A quality CZ stones are flawless, with brilliant fire, durable in hardness, and yes they are ideal cut just like a round brilliant diamond that has been cut to the exact mathematical proportions to have the same number of facets of the ideal cut diamond in each stone shape (and thus a great ability to reflect and refract like a diamond).  Of course, in any human undertaking there are mistakes, but we catch those in our rigid quality-control, destroying many imperfect stones that will never go into our finished jewelry or be for sale on our website. 

In addition to the round ideal cut stones, other diamond shapes have a jewelry industry standard for facets of the stone shape/cut, and as makers of a diamond substitute we follow that best-practices standard with our cubic zirconia stones as well.

A: Yes, our cubic zirconia stones are made to exact specifications so you can be assured that if you order 2 or more stones of the same cut/shape and size, all of them will look absolutely the same. Cubic zirconia stones like ours are proudly man-made, already internally flawless without inclusions of any kind, and cut exactly to the size and shape desired. If we’re doing our job properly, ALL of our stones of the same size and shape are going to be identical to each other and they’re ALL going to be perfect. 

If in the ultra-rare chance you receive supposedly 2 identical stones in both cut/shape and size, and there’s a visual difference between the stones, simply call us at U.S. toll-free 1-888-355-2484, or email us  through the website and we’ll arrange for a replacement of your full order at our cost.

A: No they are not. But it’s not really as simple and as clear-cut as that.

All cubic zirconia stones used commercially in jewelry pieces are man-made and lab-created because naturally occurring zirconium dioxide (the “mother mineral” of cubic zirconia) hardly resembles the faceted and polished stones the average non-chemist and non-mineralogist knows as CZ (that seen in jewelry). Unless you want to wear a ring with a center stone that looks like a sugar cube (naturally occurring rough natural zirconium dioxide), this is a good thing. As an advantage, the highest quality 5A cubic zirconia stones are flawless, brilliant, durable and strong with tremendous clarity, plus free from impurities or inclusions of any kind.

Lab-created diamonds, on the other hand, are a completely different story. While originally intended for industrial purposes such as forming the hardened tips of heavy duty drill bits, industrial grade sandpaper, glass cutters etc, lab-grown diamonds are now fast becoming the staple for a lot of diamond jewelry manufacturers. Most people equate “diamonds” with the natural mineral mined deep in the earth at the cost of life and limb. But the fact is, a great number of diamond jewelry manufacturers right now use lab grown diamonds in their products. Perhaps the manufacturers of these lab-grown stones thought, “Hey, since these diamonds we cook are chemically and physically identical to those mined from deep in the earth, why don’t we skip all the hard work of mining? We’ll even grade and certify these diamonds we make ourselves so we can sell them for a ton of money!” Thus, the more frightening question die-hard diamond fans should be asking is, “Is that diamond a REAL diamond?”. 

That being said, if a huge number of diamond jewelry nowadays is made using stones whipped up in a chemistry lab -- much in the same way cubic zirconia stones are made-- and if both stones are visually indistinguishable from each other and from a perfect natural mined diamond...so much so that even gemologists with decades of experience won’t be able to tell the difference with their naked eye...we ask: why would you pay the difference of tens of thousands of dollars for these stones?

A: These terms refer to different things. Gemologists over the years have sought to find or create a diamond look-alike that people can more easily afford. As a result, zircon, particularly white zircon, became a popular option. However, this naturally-occurring crystal, although it very closely resembles real diamonds, is still quite costly. That's where cubic zirconia comes in. Being a lab-created diamond simulant (see FAQ “How is cubic zirconia made?” for additional details), cubic zirconia is a lot more affordable than both genuine diamonds and even zircon or white zircon. Also, since there's more "human control" in the production of cubic zirconia, natural flaws (or inclusions) that are commonly present in naturally occurring gemstones (including both genuine diamonds and genuine zircon or white zircon) can be avoided altogether. The result you get with our high-grade 5A cubic zirconia is a flawless crystal that is visually indistinguishable with the naked eye from flawless genuine diamonds.

The derivative of the name zircon is unknown, but natural zircon has been known since antiquity for its brilliance. Naturally-occurring zirconium oxide, or baddeleyite (the formal name for the substance of cubic zirconia in the rough) is synthesized in a lab to make an artificial stone we call “cubic zirconia” or “CZ” commercially. That name refers to a superb zircon-like, man-made gemstone with a cubic crystal system. 

So to answer the original question, the main difference between zircon/white zircon and cubic zirconia is that the former is a natural gemstone while the latter is lab-created. As a result of this main difference, there is also a significant pricing difference between these 2 diamond simulants with the latter being far more affordable than the former.

A: Both cubic zirconia and moissanite are man-made diamond simulant stones. While some consumers believe both these stones can be made visually indistinguishable from a genuine ideal cut flawless diamond, the more experienced consumers and jewelers believe moissanite actually has more fire or sparkle than an actual real diamond. Consumers experienced with wearing diamonds thus often find that moissanite is “too shiny” compared to a genuine flawless diamond. We’ve heard jewelers over the years refer to moissanite as the “disco ball diamond”. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing!  If you don’t care that moissanite doesn’t look exactly like a diamond and just want a super-blinging, super-sparkling stone, moissanite might be a good option for you. In comparison, cubic zirconia has just the right sparkle when compared side by side with an ideal cut flawless diamond.

Regarding physical characteristics, moissanite is slightly harder than cubic zirconia with a 9.2 - 9.5 rating in the Mohs' Scale of Mineral Hardness, compared to cubic zirconia's 8.0 - 8.5 (for a more detailed explanation and definition of “Mohs Scale” see FAQ question “What is the Mohs Scale of mineral hardness? Where does cubic zirconia rank?”). Also, because of the more complicated process through which it is made, moissanite is not as clear as 5A cubic zirconia. In fact moissanite often possesses greenish or yellowish hues, as compared to cubic zirconia which when made as a diamond simulant is manufactured to be flawless and perfectly clear (cubic zirconia stones can also have any color (see “Do you sell colored cubic zirconia stones? What colors are available? Cost and shipping details?”question)).

Both cubic zirconia and moissanite are man-made with similar chemical and manufacturing processes. We know for a fact that the hard cost to create a 2 carat moissanite stone is not much more expensive than the cost to create a similar 2 carat cubic zirconia. So we cannot fathom why some companies charge over US$1300 for a 2 carat moissanite as compared to our equivalent 2 carat cubic zirconia that goes for just under $30.00! Maybe the moissanite stone just hasn’t been around as many decades to be “knocked off”?

That being said, our tagline still holds true whether our stones are held against genuine flawless diamonds or moissanite stones - “If you can’t tell the difference, why pay the difference?” And yes, you CAN tell the difference between a diamond and moissanite stone...so why bother?

A: Sure, no problem. We're ready to talk with you about the resale possibility, so please get in touch.

A: Yes it’s the best. But what is amazing for us and for many of our customers could be a big disappointment to you.

Our cubic zirconia jewelry is not the kind you grab in the scuffed and unlocked circular case at the gas station with the too-shiny fake silver rings and the hand-drawn price tag.

Want to learn more about what makes our 5A diamond-quality cubic zirconia the best quality CZ you’re likely to ever see?

Read these FAQ answers:

• Q: What does “5A quality” or “AAAAA quality” Cubic Zirconia mean?
• Q: What do you mean “visually indistinguishable from real diamonds to the naked eye”?
• Q: I am concerned with the quality of the cubic zirconia you offer.

Why is your CZ so cheap?

For the super-duper price-sensitive who hate the idea of five dollar artificial stones we make in a lab but that look like perfect real diamonds being set into five hundred dollar rings, we used to tell people to try the fifty-dollar, mass-manufactured .925 sterling silver rings at Emitations.com. They had a different business model than us, but at least their stones didn’t suck (we should know). But despite emailing their customer list a discount-a-day, sadly Emitations went out of business and lost all of their investors’ money. So maybe there’s a local gas station or flea market? If you were once an Emitations customer and wanna try us out for the first time, his this link to save more on our rings than Emitations used to charge for theirs: 9 percent off for past customers of Emitations.

A: If you're unsure about what your gift recipient wants for sure, here's a tip from our many years as a leader in this market: MOST buyers-- for self or gifting-- tend to go for the more classic look of a round cut or princess/square cut center stone with rings. In fact, not only are these the two most popular stones but between 2015-2020 greater than 6 of 10 loose stones and rings we sell have one of those two of the 10 most common center stone shape options. In our opinion, you can’t really go wrong with either round cut or princess/square cut as your top choice to buy!

Third most popular is Emerald Cut. Looking for trendy? Fourth-most popular is Cushion Cut, and it’s definitely the #1 Fastest-growing stone in popularity year-over-year both for ourselves and for many jewelry lovers and makers. Perhaps one year soon it’ll be #3 or even #2 in overall popularity.

#1 Shop Round Cut Engagement Rings

#2 Shop Princess/Square Cut Engagement Rings

#3 Shop Emerald Cut Engagement Rings

#4 Shop Cushion Cut Engagement Rings

Wanna dive deep learning about the different traditional and popular center stone shapes? Check out this comprehensive article: Which Center Stone Shape Is Best For Me/Her?

1. A: If you're unsure about how a certain center stone shape or center stone size might appear on the wearer’s finger as part of a ring, a tried-and-true method is to place just the stone atop the person's knuckle.

Note: We get orders of single stones all the time from people who want to do this, and see how each of certain shapes and/or sizes look on the finger.

If you're reading this and planning to do that, we can send you a series of stones to look at and review for the price of just one stone you purchase. Just get in touch with us and we'll put together a sample package just for you, okay?

And we're not just being magnanimous in saying so; giving you a bunch of options to look at simultaneously while you paid only for the one-- and have promised to send back the ones we provided for free (we trust you!)-- is a lot less difficult for us to do than having someone buy 10 stones and return 9 for refunds! Plus, we know when you/she fall(s) in love with the stone you/she want(s) most, there's a really great chance we'll be getting a ring order sooner rather than later. It's a win-win, baby!

A: Yep. These videos show the most popular different shapes of cubic zirconia loose stones we make and sell, as well as the customizable center stones available for setting atop the highest percentage of most products we make and sell in our catalog (asscher cut, cushion cut, emerald octagon cut, heart cut, marquise cut, oval cut, pear cut, princess/square cut, radiant octagon cut, round cut)…

Check them out here at this link: Cubic Zirconia Stone Shape Videos.