Cubic Zirconia, also known in its
shortened form as CZ, gets a bad rap. Many people associate it with
“cheap” jewelry that is designed and sold for kids and tweens.
However, that is wrong. In reality, cubic zirconia is an affordable
alternative to diamonds, with all of the sparkle that goes along with
them – but without the high price tag. It can be set into many
different types of jewelry from bracelets to necklaces, but CZ earrings are the most popular.
The Basics of CZ
Unlike diamonds, rubies and other
precious and semi-precious stones, cubic zirconia is man-made in a
laboratory. It does resemble diamonds and other gemstones once it has
been polished and cut, and it comes in many different colors, the
most popular of which is clear and colorless. In fact, because a CZ
is man-made, they are often completely colorless, unlike most
diamonds, which even when considered the utmost of quality, rarely
look as perfect. (For the record, other colors of CZ include black,
purple, green, pink, golden brown, red and shades of yellow and
orange.) CZ is made from zirconium dioxide, and once it is in its
“mineral” state it is almost as hard as a diamond.
CZ Stud Earrings
The most popular style of CZ earrings
is that of studs. To put it simply, these are earrings that don’t
dangle from the earlobes. Instead, stud earrings consist of one or
more stones set flush with a small post and a backing attached. These
earrings are very traditional and simple, and can be worn just about
anywhere and with anything. They are not flashy – even when the CZs
consist of multiple carats, and can be worn to work, the grocery
store and everywhere in between. Even men can wear a CZ earring of
this type in the workplace.
Round or Square-Stoned CZ Earrings
Once you’ve decided to buy a pair of
CZ earrings, the next question is: round or square-cut stones? Both
are equally stylish, and the decision comes down to preference, more
than anything else. A round-cut CZ, when set into a backing of 14K
yellow or white gold, is the more classic of the two. However, a
square-cut (also known as princess cut) set of CZ earrings is just as
simple, albeit slightly more modern.
Once you’ve chosen the cut, the next
choice is the size. Cubic zirconia are sold based on carat size, just
like precious gemstones. The color of the stone (clear and black are
the most traditional, and they match everything in your closet) and
the color of the metal (either white or yellow 14K gold) are the
decisions that you’ll need to make. The best part? Due to the price
of CZ earrings, you don’t have to choose just one pair!
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