Most women can't resist the sparkle of a high quality diamond, but nowadays who can afford the hefty price tag that comes with it? The good news is that we can have that same sparkle for a small fraction of the cost when we choose cubic zirconia. Not only that, but when colored oxides are added during production the result is a wide spectrum of gorgeous colors which makes cubic zirconia even more desirable.

Cubic zirconia is a synthetic gemstone made from the metallic element zirconium. What many people may not know is that cubic zirconia was once a naturally occurring mineral discovered by mineralogists in the 1930's, but it has not been found in nature 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 example, a carbon film has been added to the stones to make them even more diamond-like making the synthetic stone very difficult to distinguish from the real thing even for the trained eye. 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.

Because of its hardness and durability cubic zirconia is 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. Make sure the stone is thoroughly rinsed and dried as soap can leave behind a sparkle dulling residue. 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.

The low cost, durability and color variety of cubic zirconia make it the ideal choice for women who love to sparkle like the celebrities without paying a fortune. 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!