Cubic zirconia, also known as CZ, is a synthetic gemstone used as an alternative to diamonds. It is the crystalline form of zirconium dioxide which is a hard, flawless and usually colourless material but may come in a variety of colours.

Cubic zirconia can be found in nature as minute crystals within zircon and baddeleyite, although it is extremely rare. All CZ stones available on the market today are man-made, meaning they are created exclusively in laboratories.

The history of cubic zirconia is relatively new tracing back to 1892 when mineral baddeleyite, a natural form of zirconium oxide, was discovered. In 1937.