Unmasking the Brilliance: Cubic Zirconia

Ask most people about cubic zirconia and you'll get a shrug — "the fake diamond, right?" We think that sells one of the most impressive lab-made stones badly short. Here's what CZ actually is, and why we're proud to set it across the Ava Lockhart collection.

What cubic zirconia actually is

Cubic zirconia is a lab-created crystal of zirconium dioxide, grown at extreme temperatures and cut exactly like a diamond. To the eye it delivers the same thing you love about diamonds: white sparkle, sharp facets and serious fire under light.

How it compares to diamond

Optically, CZ is flawless — it has no inclusions, because it's grown, not mined. It actually disperses light into color more than diamond does, which is why a well-cut CZ can look livelier than a mid-grade diamond many times its price. Diamond is harder, but for jewelry you actually wear daily, an 8–8.5 on the Mohs scale is more than enough.

Why we choose it

Because it lets us do sparkle honestly. A tennis bracelet lined with mined diamonds costs thousands and mostly lives in a drawer. Ours — like the Marlowe Tennis Bracelet — delivers the same look for under $60, set in waterproof 18k gold plated steel you can wear in the sea.

Caring for CZ

Treat it like the rest of your Ava Lockhart pieces: rinse occasionally with mild soap and water, dry with a soft cloth, and keep it clear of harsh chemicals. All Ava Lockhart pieces are waterproof, hypoallergenic and backed by our Lifetime Color Warranty — if a piece ever loses its color, we replace it.

See the stones in action in our rings and bracelets collections.