One of the latest trends to hit the streets is flashy, brightly colored jewelry. If you, like most are looking to fill your jewelry box with a little extra bling, then cubic zirconia rings are what you have been looking for! Most people think of cubic zirconia and automatically picture the diamond look-alike. What they do not know is CZ is also made in many different colors.
Rough uncut colored CZ
To create colored gemstones the process is very similar to forming clear CZ. Before the end of the process various oxides are added to the mix to create color. Adding Cerium makes red, orange, and yellow CZ. Adding Chromium makes green, neodymium makes purple, erbium makes pink, and titanium added to the mix makes brown. These are some of the most popular colors. The addition of other metal oxide dopants into the mix make even more vibrant colors.
In recent years manufacturers have found ways to make a already beautiful cubic zirconia gem shimmer even more. One such process involves coating a finished cz with a layer of diamond-like carbon (DLC) or amorphous diamond. The resulting CZ is stronger and move diamond-like over all. In addition to the looks, the added layers of DLC make the CZ appear more like a diamond under most forms of testing because of the added diamond bonds on the surface.
Another, though less permanent way of modifying CZ is by vacuum sputtering a thin layer of metal oxide such as gold over the gemstone. This technique originally used on topaz and quartz creates a iridescent effect. This is normally marketed as “mystic” by most dealers.
In addition to getting colored or coated CZ gemstones you can increase the bling factor of your cubic zirconia rings by selecting a different band. Many different metals, both expensive and cheap can be paired with a expertly cut CZ stone to make the perfect ring. Popular choices include gold, white gold, silver, stainless steel, and sterling silver. A truly extotic metal choice would be platinum. This is a rather pricey metal and has become associated with wealth and luxury in recent years. Two more choices that are very up and coming are titanium and tungsten carbide. They are known for their strenth and durability and would make a great choice for a cubic zirconia ring. They have become favored by mechanics, electricians, plumbers, construction workers, machinists and anyone else that works a very hands on trade and would destroy a traditional gold or silver band.
