Cubic Zirconia: Look Like A Million Bucks Without Spending A Fortune



Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009

by TaTanisha Howard
Windfall Enterprises

The sparkle of a diamond is almost hypnotic. Most women can't resist its allure. Unfortunately, in this economy it is a luxury that most of us can only dream of having. Luckily for us there is an alternative that is equally as beautiful without the hefty price tag! Cubic zirconia has all of the sparkle of a real diamond at a fraction of the cost plus the added bonus of huge color varieties so you can mix and match to fit your mood or wardrobe.

Cubic zirconia is a synthetic gemstone made from the metallic element zirconium. It may surprise you to know that cubic zirconia wasn't always the synthetic material we know of today. It was once discovered in nature by scientists over 70 years ago, but has not been found since. They scientists didn't think much of their discovery so they did not give it a name which is why we still refer to cubic zirconia by its scientific name. In the 1970's Russian scientists learned how to produce cubic zirconia in a lab but it didn't become popular until the 1980's when Australian leaded crystal producer Swarovski began its mass production.

In recent years more improvements have been made to how we produce cubic zirconia. For instance a new process of adding a carbon film over the stones gives cubic zirconia an even more diamondesque appearance making them virtually indistiguishable from the real thing. Because cubic zirconia is manmade it is virtually flawless unlike most real diamonds which tend to have some flaw in color or cut. A well made cubic zirconia stone is the closest thing you will find to a real high quality diamond.

The durability of cubic zirconia makes it very easy to care for. It can be cleaned with conventional jewelry cleaner and a small brush to remove oil and dirt. An ultrasonic cleaner can also be used. Regular soap or detergent can be used on the stone itself but use caution. Be careful to remove all traces of soap or detergent as they can create a dulling film. However, if the cubic zirconia is part of a costume jewelry piece be sure to only use a cleaner that is indicated as safe for costume jewelry.

For women who love the glitz and glamour of the diamond adorned movie stars, but don't have the movie star budget, cubic zirconia is the perfect choice. Even if I were a millionaire spending that kind of money just wouldn't seem right, especially in this current economy. With the right costume jewelry you can look like a million bucks without spending a million bucks!

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Windfall Enterprises specializes in beautiful inexpensive costume jewelry including cubic zirconia, rhinestone, pearl, swarovski crystal, and more. You can check out their selection at http://www.windfall-costume-jewelry.com
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