Journal · By Our Bench Jewelers
Moissanite vs Cubic Zirconia: A Side-by-Side Test
Published December 31, 1969 · Written by the Holycome atelier team, Wuzhou China
Cubic zirconia (CZ) is synthetic zirconium oxide. It is cheap (a 1ct CZ costs $5), but it is soft (8 on Mohs) and clouds over within a year of daily wear.
Moissanite is 9.25 on Mohs, never clouds, and refracts roughly 2.4x more light than CZ. Under direct sunlight, the fire (rainbow flashes) is obvious.
We have both in stock. If you are on a tight budget and the piece is for a single event, CZ is fine. If it is for daily wear, choose moissanite.