You’re in love. You know that you’ve met “the one”. Now you want to make it official. Chances are that either you or your partner have been adversely effected by our country’s current economic downturn. How do you put a ring on it and still have money left to live on (or plan for a wedding)?
Did you ever consider Cubic Zirconia (CZ)? I have and I LOVE it! Before you cringe or say that you don’t want a fake engagement ring, consider the following:
- Cubic Zirconia has all of the properties of a diamond. It is simply the man made version. Gemologists consider CZ the BEST diamond substitute.
- Cubic Zirconia is not a fad. In fact, a scientist discovered the first zirconia in 1892. Merchants began commercially producing CZ almost 40 years ago. By the 1980’s production reached 50 million carats per year!
- You don’t have to worry about the 4 C’s with CZ! When purchasing a diamond, a buyer must consider the color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. With CZ, the color is always perfect (and there are dozens of color options), the clarity is always perfect, and the price is low enough to get the cut and carat weight you want.
- Cubic Zirconia is economical. You can buy CZ for a fraction of the cost of a diamond. Where a one carat, flawless diamond engagement ring costs thousands of dollars, if you shop around, you can buy a one carat CZ engagement ring for under $50!
- This is not your mother’s gold/platinum plating. The technology used today assures that the high quality gold and platinum plating does not wear off.
- Even experts can’t tell the difference. On many occasions, gemologists have grabbed their loops to determine whether a stone is a Cubic Zirconia or diamond.
Even though I have been married for awhile, I needed (okay wanted) a new engagement ring. I worked with jewelry for years and have an addiction. Since my engagement ring no longer fit, and I didn’t want to have it sized, I figured I had an excuse to buy more jewelry! My problem is that I fell in love with too many rings! Here are three of my favorites (I won’t tell you which one I’m wearing):
At only $29, the price is definitely right for this ring. What else do I love about it? The platinum plating is definitely a bonus, but my favorite part about this ring is the classic styling. The round cut provides a classic feeling while the diamonds inset on either side give the ring a little bit of extra pizzazz. This style looks great on any hand. If you are a classic, princess, fairytale wedding-type woman, then this ring is for you.
When you are looking for a designer name with Cubic Zirconia, Zoe R. paired with Swarovski are it. You are not just paying for the name, there is something truly special about each stone and crystal that the Swarvoski creates.
I love the style of this ring. With a 1.4 carat center stone, it can be seen without being too flashy. The side stones are .2 carats of CZ, and .2 carats of diamonds surround the center stone.
Why is this ring more expensive than my other choices? It’s not only the Swarovski name. This ring is 10K white gold. Based on the size of the ring, the Swarovski CZ, and the weight in gold, you are getting a great deal! You might even be able to catch it on sale for 50% off . . . like I did!
Susan B. makes great jewelry. You can always find something new and different when you check out the website. I was absolutely thrilled to find a bezel set, yellow gold, one carat, CZ solitaire!
Why is this ring so great? Bezel set rings don’t grab the light the way higher settings do. The light actually reflects within the setting, giving the stone a deeper look. Also, if you are a klutz like me, you won’t snag your ring on your clothes. Bezel settings were big about ten years ago, and seem to be making a slow, steady comeback. Wouldn’t you love to be the first of your friends with a bezel set ring?
This ring has a matte finish of 18k gold plating. Another reason to love it! This ring is classic and unique all at once. If you want an understated yet attention getting look, this is the ring for you.
At only $40, you can’t afford to pass it up.
By now, I bet that you are at least considering the Cubic Zirconia option. Let me explain the differences between CZ and a diamond.
v CZ is perfection. Because Cubic Zirconia is produced in a lab, its structure is literally perfect. Unlike a diamond, a CZ does not contain flaws or inclusions.
v Less brilliance, more fire. CZ mimics a diamond’s brilliance, with hundreds of facets cut into each stone. The naked eye cannot typically detect the difference in brilliance. Moreover, the fire (the rainbow flashes of color) in a CZ is impressive. Many jewelers market their diamonds as exclusive with fire unlike any other. When you are buying a Cubic Zirconia, the fire is included without any extra marketing or price!
v CZ is heavier. Cubic Zirconia weighs 75% more than diamonds. A 6.5 mm CZ is the equivalent size of a 1 carat diamond, but the CZ weighs 1.75 carats!
v Both Cubic Zirconia and Diamonds can scratch glass. My grandmother always told me that only diamonds can scratch glass. I guess she was wrong! Cubic Zirconia is almost as hard as a diamond and can scratch glass too.
So you’ve read all of this, and you’re still not sure whether to buy a CZ ring or a diamond? Let me leave you with two thoughts. First, you can wear a rockin’ CZ and still have money left over for your wedding or the down payment on a house. Second, I wear a CZ engagement ring EVERYDAY! I prefer it over my diamond. I have caught women staring at my ring with envy and they hide their .25 carat diamonds that cost 5x as much.
Well, I’m itching to check out. The sooner my new rings arrive, the better!
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