We have all heard that diamonds are a girls best friend. A girl, that is, with means. Diamonds are beautiful, yes. But they are also extremely expensive. The price has risen steadily over the years as a diamond cartel led by DeBeers company has monopolized the diamond market. A good quality diamond today retails for roughly $6500 per carat. In the face of the escalating cost cubic zirconia, a synthesized diamond simulant, has emerged as a reasonably priced alternative. CZ can compete with and in fact surpasses diamonds on different levels.

There is no comparison between CZ and diamonds when it comes to pricing. CZs are a fraction of the price of diamonds retailing for about .60 cents per carat. This huge disparity in price allows for more flexibility in the ownership characteristics of CZ buyers. As a result, one can purchase a variety of styles and still not be overwhelmed financially. Buying a diamond of any consequence, on the other hand, may require a visit to your banks loan department. There is also the issue of caring for a diamond and the anxiety that comes along with this obligation. CZ owners truly lack the worrying and careful consideration of use associated with possessing expensive diamonds. CZ owners tend to be more concerned with fashion discretion.

Certainly diamonds are valuable in their own right. Diamonds are the hardest natural occurring material known to man and are used extensively in industry. Through effective marketing and controlled distribution, diamonds have reached the pinnacle of the jewelry market. Yet, if you had to distinguish between a diamond and cubic zirconia stone you would most likely not know the difference. You may even choose the CZ stone due to the fact that CZ has a higher dispersion rate than diamonds consequently sparkling more brilliantly. CZ also registers high on the Mohls scale which measure hardness in stones. Only diamonds and sapphires are higher on the scale.

The benefits of cubic zirconia in terms of price and quality have led to an increase in its popularity. Enlightened consumers watching their bottom line find cubic zirconia to be an exciting alternative. Will diamonds always be considered the most valuable precious stone? The Debeers company has recently lost some of its iron grip on the diamond market, which may lead to the decline in price of diamonds. This may either increase the popularity of diamonds as they become more affordable or decrease the demand as the perception of diamonds as an investment diminishes. Either way, CZ continues to entice, offering savings plus quality, qualifying cubic zirconia as a legitimate frontrunner.