Cubic Zirconia Jewelry History
The fascinating history of cubic zirconia is predicated on the simple fact that for as long as mankind has been transfixed with the existence of precious materials such as diamonds and gold, we have tried to find ways to replicate these materials for use in jewelry. The substance that is now synthesized as cubic zirconia first came to light in 1892 with the discovery of baddeleyite. This yellowish mineral is zirconium oxide, a close relative of cubic zirconium. Although it exists in nature, it is too rare to have value or economic importance.
The discovery that a similar substance might ultimately have a use in jewelry might never have been made had it not been for the progress of scientists, beginning in the 1930s. They were seeking a clear, durable material for use in optical applications such as lasers. They conducted decades of experiments while trying to overcome the primary challenge of synthetic creation of a substance whose melting point of 2750 degrees Celsius made it impossible to contain in its molten form.
Cubic Zirconia Provides a Breakthrough in the History of Jewelry
In the 1970s, major progress occurred:
- Scientists in Moscow perfected a technique for cooling the material.
- They published their breakthrough, involving a water-cooled container that they called the “skull crucible,” in 1973.
- The history of jewelry was changed forever when commercial production of cubic zirconia began in 1976.
By 1980, the annual global production of cubic zirconium for jewelry and other purposes reached 50 million carats. In an interesting twist of history, the original name for cubic zirconia given by the Soviets was Fianit. Perhaps fortunately, that name never made it outside of the Soviet Union.
