Look closely at the Violet Crown Ring and you'll notice two different stones at work: a natural amethyst at the center, and a halo of small, precisely matched accent stones around it. Those accents are cubic zirconia — and they're doing a specific job, not standing in as a cheaper substitute for something else.
Violet Crown Ring — $309
Shop the Violet Crown Ring →Here's what cubic zirconia actually is, why it's used the way it is, and how to think about it next to a fully natural-stone piece.
Cubic zirconia is a lab-created stone, not glass or plastic. It's commonly used as a small, consistent accent around a natural center stone — and a transparent seller will always tell you which is which.
What Cubic Zirconia Actually Is
Cubic zirconia (often shortened to CZ) is a lab-created crystal made from zirconium dioxide. It is not glass, and it is not plastic — it's a real, hard, faceted gemstone material, just one that's grown in a controlled lab environment rather than mined from the earth.
Chemically, it's distinct from diamond, though the two can look similar at a glance, which is part of why CZ became popular as an accent stone in the first place. It takes a bright polish, holds its facets well, and can be cut into very small, uniform shapes.
Why Use It as an Accent
Natural gemstones vary slightly from stone to stone — that's part of what makes them natural. But when a design calls for a dozen tiny, identical accent stones circling a center gem, that same natural variation becomes a production challenge: matching twelve natural stones for size, color, and clarity is difficult and expensive.
Lab-created cubic zirconia solves that problem. Each small accent stone can be cut to the same size and clarity, which keeps the halo even, keeps the focus on the natural center stone, and keeps the finished piece at a reasonable price.
How We Use It at Praise Jewels
On the Violet Crown Ring, the center stone is natural amethyst, and the surrounding accent stones are cubic zirconia. We disclose this directly in the product title and description — we don't describe CZ accents as natural, and we don't blend the two into a single vague "gemstone" claim.
If you want a piece with no manufactured stones at all, we carry several — see the fully natural alternatives below.
CZ vs. a Fully Natural-Stone Piece
If you'd rather avoid manufactured stones entirely, several Praise Jewels pieces use only natural gemstones throughout — no CZ accents at all. The Amethyst Rhythm Bracelet and the Black Onyx Pendant Necklace are both built around a single natural gemstone with no accent stones to source or disclose.
Amethyst Rhythm Bracelet — $379
Shop the Amethyst Rhythm Bracelet →
Black Onyx Pendant Necklace — $299
Shop the Black Onyx Pendant Necklace →Frequently Asked Questions About Cubic Zirconia
Is cubic zirconia fake?
No. It's a real, lab-created gemstone material — not glass or plastic. "Lab-created" means it was grown in a controlled setting rather than mined, not that it isn't a genuine gemstone.
Will cubic zirconia look different over time?
With normal wear and the care any gemstone jewelry needs — avoiding harsh chemicals and storing pieces properly — cubic zirconia holds its clarity and polish well.
Is cubic zirconia the same as a diamond simulant like moissanite?
They're both lab-created stones sometimes used in place of diamond, but they're chemically different materials from each other and from diamond itself.
Does Praise Jewels disclose which stones are CZ vs. natural?
Yes. Every product description specifies which stones are natural and which, if any, are cubic zirconia — we never describe an accent stone as natural when it isn't.
Shop at Praise Jewels
Cubic zirconia isn't trying to be a diamond or to pass as a natural stone — used thoughtfully as a small, consistent accent, it lets a natural center stone like amethyst stand out without the cost or inconsistency of trying to match a dozen natural stones around it.