FAQ
How to size your ring?
In order to print the ring sizer above, be sure that your printer is set to 100%. Make sure that you have not reduced the print size in your printer 'page setup' area. You can verify that the sizer printed correctly by measuring it with a ruler; it should measure from A to B: 3 1/2 inches long.
Once you have printed the sizer, follow these directions to find your ring size:
1.Cut out the ring sizer
2.Cut a slit for Slot "A"
3.With the numbers facing out, wrap the sizer around the finger where the ring will be worn.
4.Pull the pointed end Tab "B" through Slot "A" until the sizer is snug, making sure to allow size for the knuckle.
5.The number aligned with Slot "B" is your ring size.
6.If the measure lands between two numbers your size is a half size Ex: Between 5 and 6 ring size: 5.5. If half sizes are not available, order the next largest size.
What is Cubic Zirconia?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cubic zirconia (or CZ), is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors. It should not be confused with zircon, which is a zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4).
Because of its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to diamond, synthetic cubic zirconia has remained the mostgemologically and economically important competitor for diamonds since 1976. Its main competition as a synthetic gemstone is the more recently cultivated material, synthetic moissanite.
What is Zirconite?
Zirconite is a diamond simulate having optical characteristics that are very close to those of natural diamonds. It is crystal grown under tremendous heat of 5000�F (the hardest steel melts at around 3000�F) and was developed by the Russians for use in their Laser programs. It has a refractive index, dispersion and hardness so close to a diamond it is uncanny. Diamond, one of the hardest materials known to man is rated 10, lying at the top of the hardness scale. The hardness of ZIRCONITE® cubic zirconia ranges between 9.0-9.1 while ordinary cubic zirconia ranges between 8.5-8.9. Glass or sand is approximately 5-6, therefore dust and dirt will not scratch ZIRCONITE®. Indeed, ZIRCONITE® cubic zirconia can scratch glass just like natural diamonds. ZIRCONITE® is also tougher than sapphire, making ZIRCONITE® more chip resistant.
There are many grades of cubic zirconia from those with a milky look to high intensity, custom cut, polished girdles with perfect facets, which look just like diamonds. Cubic zirconia gem cutting and polishing techniques vary widely around the world. Even if the raw materials used are exactly the same, the best quality faceting and polishing methods result in gems which have far more "life" and a crisper, cleaner appearance, proving that when it comes to ZIRCONITE® cubic zirconia, the old maxim "you get what you pay for" is absolutely true.
ZIRCONITE® weighs 65% more than a real diamond. Therefore, the only way to tell the difference between the two is by weighing the unset stone. Once it is set, it is impossible for even a jeweler to tell the difference. A few years ago, ABC�s 20/20 news team took a high intensity cubic zirconia stone, as well as a perfect $50,000,000 mined diamond to the New York Diamond District. After careful examination of the two stones an expert claimed that they were both so perfect that they must both be counterfeit!
The only difference therefore between ZIRCONITE® and a diamond lies in the price, and in the mind...
Cubic Zirconia versus Diamond
There are a few key features of cubic zirconia which distinguish it from diamond, some observable only under the microscope or loupe, for example:
Dispersion:
With a dispersive power greater than diamond (0.060 vs. 0.044) the more prismatic fire of cubic zirconia can be seen by even an untrained eye.[citation needed]
Hardness:
Cubic zirconia has an 8.5 to <9.0 on the Mohs hardness scale vs. a rating of 10 for diamonds.
Specific gravity:
Cubic zirconia crystals are heavyweights in comparison to diamonds; a cubic zirconia will weigh about 1.7 times more than a diamond of equivalent size.
Flaws:
Contemporary production of cubic zirconia is virtually flawless,[citation needed] whereas most diamonds have some sort of defect, be it a feather, included crystal, or perhaps a remnant of an original crystal face (e.g. trigons).
Refractive index:
Cubic zirconia has a refractive index of 2.176, compared to a diamond's 2.417.
Cut: Under close inspection with a loupe, the facet shapes of some cubic zirconias appear different from diamonds.
Color (or more precisely, the lack thereof):
Only the rarest of diamonds are truly colorless, most having a tinge of yellow or brown to some extent. By comparison, cubic zirconia can be made in most cases entirely colorless: equivalent to a perfect "D" on diamond's color grading scale.
Thermal conductivity:
Cubic zirconias are thermal insulators while diamonds are among the most efficient thermal conductors, exceeding copper. This makes telling the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia quite easy for those with the right instruments.
What's the difference between platinum and rhodium?
Platinum is a soft, highly ductile and malleable metal widely used in jewelry manufacturing. It is also a very rare metal which is why jewelry made from or plated with platinum tends to be more expensive. It actually takes 10 tons of ore to create one ounce of platinum! Platinum is stronger, heavier and more durable than other jewelry metals, weighing almost twice as much as karat gold and its strength ideally secures diamonds and other precious gems. Even after years of wear there is scarcely any metal loss through abrasion and platinum is also kind to the skin. Platinum will never tarnish or lose its rich white luster although, as with all precious metals (gold, silver, etc.), platinum can be scratched. However, with platinum, there is actually no material lost from the scratch as there is with gold.
Because platinum is so pure, it neither fades nor changes its color. This distinguishes it from white gold (which often has a thin coat of rhodium plated onto the gold). In America, platinum jewelry contains either 90% or 95% pure platinum. By comparison, 18 karat gold is 75% pure and 14 karat is 58% pure gold. Platinum itself is never used in jewelry plating because it is so soft and does not make a good or durable electroplate. Instead, rhodium, a metal found in the same family as platinum, silver and gold is used. It is whiter, harder and lasts much longer as an electroplate than platinum does. Rhodium is also much more expensive than platinum.
In short, our "platinum plated" jewelry is really plated with rhodium, a metal with a similar look to platinum but which is more suitable for use in the plating process.
What is Mother of Pearl?
Your exclusive Zirconmania® Mother Of Pearl (M.O.P.) can be found in the finest department and jewelry stores the world over! Every pearl is made from the genuine organic shell which houses some of the rarest South Sea pearls which are worth thousands of dollars. The shell is crushed into a very fine grain. It is then molded into perfect spheres which are coated with genuine South Sea pearl dust. It is the dust which produces the remarkable South Sea Pearls color and luster. A final coat of resin protects it from the elements, body moisture and oils and gives it a lasting brilliance.
Your Zirconmania® Mother Of Pearl jewelry can give you years of wearing pleasure as long as you care for it properly and do not expose it to chemicals such as those found in pool or seawater. Assuming normal wear and tear, your Mother of Pearl jewelry may need to be restrung once a year to keep it the best possible condition. Zirconmania Direct can provide this service, however, labor is not covered by the warranty.