The jewelry world knows almost identical twins —diamonds and cubic zirconia. But, in the last fifty years or so, they have been in competition against each other for people’s love.

The law of scarcity explains the eternal attraction of a diamond. They are tough to find, especially high-quality stones. Diamonds are created when high temperatures and pressure meet to cause carbon atoms to bond together.

Under immeasurable pressure and at temperatures of 2000 – 2200 degrees Fahrenheit, a diamond begins to form. It takes millions of years for the carbon atoms to bond to form crystals and create the world’s hardest and most treasured substance.

However, since the 1970s, the diamond’s identical twin that shares almost all of its spectacular properties has been competing with diamonds for people’s love and hard-earned money. Cubic zirconia (CZ) is nearly impossible to tell from a diamond as it is made of zirconium oxide powder under the same conditions, even at temperatures two times higher.

The flawless stone is free of inclusions and compares to diamonds in brilliance and clarity; even a professional expert may have difficulty telling one from the other. So why crave diamonds given that alternative? Some jewelry stores even do not display CZ pieces next to diamond ones: people in most cases would go for a zirconia piece leaving an unsold diamond piece gathering dust.

One European company, Ciro, is the strongest CZ proponent and has excelled in making exquisite pieces that win hands down when pitted against diamond jewelry. Apart from its diamond-like properties, CZ is a 100-percent sustainable material with its origins clean and clear compared to the often murky pedigree of diamonds, some even called “blood” diamonds because of the horrific mining conditions.

Such celebrities as Angelina Jolie, Julianne Moore, Uma Thurman, and Cameron Diaz, who are known to be sustainability freaks, were spotted wearing Ciro jewelry.  Many other fashion influencers and celebrities vouch for its entry into the mainstream market, bringing the glamour and brilliance of the natural diamond free of any sustainability concerns.

Made exclusively of 925 sterling gold-plated silver or 18 ct gold, Ciro collections are eye-catching. All white stones are AAA-ranked zirconia available in common diamond cuts such as assher, princess, or pear. In addition, Moissanite and labdiamonds made their debut in Ciro’s most recent First Love collection.

Since cubic zirconia cannot be colored, CIRO uses different materials for all colored stones; the green and blue stones in the Black Tie collection are nanoglass, another material with artificial inclusions that give the stone a natural look. The red stones are corundum – a naturally occurring mineral. Ciro’s pieces compare in style, design, and craftsmanship with the big names such as Chopard, Cartier, and Escada yet come at a fraction of their prices.

To learn more about Ciro Jewelry and its recent collections, visit their website or follow them on Instagram.