gemstone

Cubic Zirconia

Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2)

Hardness: 8-8.5 on Mohs scale. Color: Colorless (can be doped with various elements to produce colors). Luster: Adamantine. Crystal Structure: Cubic (isometric). Cleavage: None. Specific Gravity: 5.6-6.0.

Hardness: 8-8
Luster: Adamantine

Identified July 10, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Synthetically produced in a laboratory. It is formed by melting zirconium oxide powder with stabilizers like yttrium or calcium at very high temperatures and then allowing it to crystallize as it cools.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a diamond simulant in jewelry due to its high dispersion and low cost.

Geological facts

Cubic zirconia was discovered in its natural form (baddeleyite) in 1937, but the synthetic version used for jewelry wasn't perfected until 1973 by Soviet scientists.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified by its high dispersion (more colorful flashes than diamond) and lack of inclusions under magnification. It is also heavier than a diamond of the same size. Commonly found in commercial jewelry.