Cubic Zirconia
Cubic Zirconia (or CZ), the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), is a mineral that is widely synthesised for use as a diamond simulant. The synthesised material is hard, optically flawless and usually colourless, but may be made in a variety of colours.
It should not be confused with zircon, which is a zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4). As the name implies, Cubic Zirconia is crystallographically isometric, and as diamond is also isometric, this is an important attribute of a would-be diamond simulant.
Under short-wave UV light, cubic zirconia typically shows up as yellow, greenish yellow or beige. Under long-wave UV light, the effect is greatly diminished, showing up with a whitish glow.
(Source: Wikipedia.com)
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