Cubic zirconia is made from a mineral, zirconium oxide, discovered in 1937. It became popular in the 1980s when Swarovski began manufacturing and promoting it to the public for jewelry use. Today, cubic zirconia is available in colorful stones and imitation diamonds.
If you have cubic zirconia jewelry, here are some tips for taking care of it:
Cleaning Cubic Zirconia Stones
Cubic zirconia can get dirty faster than real diamonds since it is not as hard, and it may need to be cleaned more often.
Cubic zirconia
It is a good idea to wear your cubic zirconia stones with caution and take them off when doing activities such as gardening, laundry, cleaning and bathing.
Chemicals and soaps will leave a residue on these stones, causing them to become dull quickly.
Avoid using lotion, hairspray, makeup, powders and cleaning agents while wearing your cubic zirconia jewelry.
A good way to clean your cubic zirconia is to use a small soft brush and hot soapy water to remove dirt.
Rinse it in warm water and pat dry with a clean cloth. This will restore the cubic zirconia stone to its natural shine and clarity.
Cleaning should be done every few weeks to maintain the maximum appeal of the stone.
Cleaning the Settings of Cubic Zirconia Jewelry
Cubic zirconia can be set in 14k and 18k gold, sterling silver, silver plate, and platinum. Jewelry in these settings can be worn frequently without much damage to the setting.
Jewelry set in cheaper materials may tarnish and scratch much faster, and may not clean well.
Settings made of quality metals such as 14k and 18k gold, sterling silver, silver plate and platinum can be cleaned with any good jewelry cleaner. For example, this polishing cream & tarnish remover and this jewelry cleaning kit are quite popular.
Some metals, including gold and silver, may also be plated with a special finish such as rhodium to help prevent scratching and tarnishing.
These plated finishes will scratch, so jewelry should be worn more carefully.
Plated finishes should not be cleaned with jewelry cleaners or polished. Use only soap and water and wipe dry.
