Cubic zirconia is a lab grown crystal made of zirconium oxide. Crystal in jewellery is usually cut glass, often with lead or other minerals added for extra shine. Cubic zirconia is much harder and bends light more strongly. That is why it sparkles more and scratches less easily. Below you can read what this means in practice for your earrings.
What do we mean by crystal?
Shops use the word crystal for different things. In fashion, it almost always means crystal glass. That is glass with a high content of lead or a similar substance. This addition makes the glass clearer and lets it glitter more than ordinary window glass.
Cubic zirconia belongs to a different group. It is not glass, but a real crystal with a fixed, regular structure. You can read how this crystal is made in a lab in the article how is cubic zirconia made.
The Core Crystal Push Back Earrings Zirconia
Crystal is not the same as rock crystal
Here, too, the name is a trap. Rock crystal is a natural stone: clear quartz from the earth. People make crystal glass and cubic zirconia, but not rock crystal. You can read more about this natural stone in this article on rock crystal.
Which stone is harder?
You measure hardness on the Mohs scale, from 1 to 10. Crystal glass is around 5.5 to 6. Cubic zirconia scores 8 to 8.5. The difference seems small, but you notice it straight away in daily life.
Ordinary house dust contains tiny grains of quartz, with a hardness of 7. Anything softer than 7 slowly picks up fine scratches because of this. So crystal glass gradually turns dull. Cubic zirconia is harder than those grains and keeps its crisp shine for much longer.
What do you notice on your ear?
Earrings bump into all sorts of things. Think of your phone, your hairbrush or the collar of your coat. A glass stone then gets damaged at the edges more quickly. A cubic zirconia stone copes better, and you see that especially after a year or two of wear.
Which one sparkles most?
Sparkle depends on how strongly a stone bends light. Crystal glass has a refractive index of about 1.5 to 1.7. Cubic zirconia is around 2.15. Light bends much more strongly in cubic zirconia and bounces back to your eye more often.
On top of that, cubic zirconia splits white light beautifully into colours. You see those rainbow flashes especially in candlelight or in the sun. With glass, this effect is weaker, which is why glass often gets an extra aid.
The little mirror on the back
Many crystal stones have a thin reflective layer on the back. That layer reflects the light, so the stone looks brighter. If the layer gets wet or damaged, the stone loses its shine. Cubic zirconia does not need such a layer, because the crystal itself sparkles enough.
How can you tell the difference?
With the naked eye it is tricky, but a few things stand out. Cubic zirconia feels heavier in your hand than a piece of glass of the same size. Also look at the edges of the facets. With glass they often become rounded and dull over time, while with cubic zirconia they stay sharp.
The easiest way is to read the product information. A reliable shop states exactly which stone is used. For the earrings in this collection, the specifications simply say Gemstone: Zirconia, together with the material 925 sterling silver and the finish.
Why do jewellery makers choose cubic zirconia?
For earrings you wear every day, durability counts. A hard crystal in a sturdy setting stays beautiful for years. That is why Sparkling Jewels combines cubic zirconia with 925 sterling silver and a finish of 14 carat gold or rhodium. The brand has been designing in the Netherlands since 2014, and artisans in Italy, Bangkok and Hong Kong make every piece by hand.
Small stones get the same care. In a pavé design, dozens of cubic zirconia stones sit close together. You can read how they are held in place in the article what is a pavé hoop earring.
Uneven Push Back Earrings Zirconia
When is crystal a fine choice?
Crystal glass is not bad. For large statement earrings that you wear a few times a year, it is light and affordable. Looking for a pair for every day that can handle knocks, dust and a rain shower? Then cubic zirconia is the smarter choice.
Which one do you choose?
Put the differences side by side. Cubic zirconia is harder, sparkles more and stays clear for longer. Crystal glass is softer and needs more care. For everyday wear, you go for cubic zirconia in silver or gold plated silver.
Get inspired by all earrings with zirconia. Would you rather find out first which shape suits you? Then browse all earrings, from studs to hoops.
Frequently asked questions about cubic zirconia and crystal
I'm happy to answer a few frequently asked questions:
Is cubic zirconia more expensive than crystal?
The loose stone makes little difference in price. The biggest difference lies in the metal and the craftsmanship of the earring itself. A silver earring with cubic zirconia usually costs more than a costume earring with glass.
Does cubic zirconia go dull like crystal?
Much less quickly. Cubic zirconia is harder than dust and hardly scratches. A dull layer usually comes from skin oils or cream, and you wipe it off again with a soft cloth.
Can you wear crystal and cubic zirconia together?
Absolutely. In an ear stack, the difference is barely noticeable. Wear the cubic zirconia in the piercing that catches the most light.
Want to know more, or have questions? The experts at Sparkling Jewels are happy to help.
