Have you ever stood there scratching your head over what the actual difference is between a Zircon and Cubic Zirconia? The two types of stones are named (almost) the same, and look confusingly, incredibly similar.

It's no surprise that one can get a little bit confused about what's what. But you know what? They're actually incredibly different, and it all lies in the details. So stick around while I dive into the details about these two beautiful stones and help you get wiser on what the actual difference is between Zircon and Cubic Zirconia.

Zircon is a natural beauty, created by the earth itself. The stone consists of zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4), and you'll often find it in cooled, solidified magma and metamorphic rocks.

Zircon Comes in a Wealth of Colors

This gemstone comes in all sorts of color shades—brown, yellow, green, blue and even clear. Some of the zircons you may come across today have been heat-treated to make the colors in the stone pop even more, so the stone appears more beautiful.

How Hard Is a Zircon?

On the Mohs hardness scale, Zircon scores between 6.5 and 7.5. Generally, zircons are considered quite robust, but you should still be a little careful; it can chip or scratch if you're too rough with it.

Zircon's Beautiful Sparkle

Where you find the real difference between cubic zirconia and a genuine zircon is zircon's incredible sparkle. Thanks to its high refractive index, zircons often appear very brilliant and can in some cases even give a diamond a run for its money.

What Does Zircon Cost?

Zircon is not always the cheap alternative. Of cubic zirconia and zircon, it's most often zircon that is the expensive choice. BUT, a high-quality Zircon is not a cheap stone to acquire; especially the blue and colorless varieties can, depending on quality, be among the more expensive gemstones if you want to get your hands on them.

Here's How You Know It's a Zircon

How do you know that you're dealing with a zircon versus cubic zirconia? Check the stone's sparkle. A natural Zircon will have a unique brilliance and refraction of light. And should you have a jeweler's loupe on you, you can take a look at the stone and see the natural inclusions or small irregularities that a zircon contains — this is a sign of its natural origin.

Cubic zirconia, or CZ as it's called for short, is a lab-created stone made of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). And you read that right. Yes, it's man-made!

What Colors Does Cubic Zirconia Come In?

Cubic zirconia is normally colorless, but since the stone is man-made, it can be made in exactly the color you want. These stones are often seen in a rainbow of shades.

How Hard Is Cubic Zirconia?

Cubic Zirconia is a hard stone, scoring 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale. It's a great choice for you if you wear jewelry every day and want your jewelry and stones to be resistant to scratches and chips.

How Is the Sparkle on the Stone?

Although Zirconia also has a high refractive index, it doesn't quite match Zircon's natural brilliance.

The Budget-Friendly Stone

Cubic zirconia is your go-to if you're looking for something that won't break the piggy bank. It's a popular and affordable alternative to diamonds and natural zircon.

Here's How You Spot Cubic Zirconia

Cubic zirconia is almost always flawless, thanks to its laboratory origin. If one day you find yourself with a gemstone in hand and it looks a little too perfect and at the same time has an affordable price, then it's most likely a CZ stone you're holding

Whether you're a Zircon enthusiast or a Cubic Zirconia fan, knowing the difference between these two can make your gemstone shopping trip a bit easier. Each has its own charm and advantages. In the end, it's about which stone you personally feel is the right match for your jewelry.

Hope this guide has made you just a little bit wiser.