When do you CZ?

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Clinn236

Clinn236

Member
Jul 27, 2017
51
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#1
When do you go with CZ or another diamond look-alike, and when is it worth it to spring for real diamonds?

I was at a mall-chain-type store yesterday with my mom looking for earrings for her to wear at my wedding. I have been wanting some pearl halo earrings and asked to see a few pairs. I was surprised by how much I could NOT tell the difference between the diamond, CZ, and white sapphire halos until after I knew the price of each piece. I ended up getting the pair with sapphire halos based on the metal color and the look of the pearls, but honestly the halos on all of them were beautiful and I would not have known the difference had I not asked for more information.
 
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#3
To CZ or not is all about the image you want to portray to the world. If you wear CZ, your image is that you wear fake stuff and try to pass it as real. That is the only reason why someone would buy CZ. If you are ok with that image, then go for it.

For me, I don't do fake anything. If I cannot afford a specific piece I want, I would never go fake with CZ. Just my two cents.
 
#4
willeyi said:
To CZ or not is all about the image you want to portray to the world. If you wear CZ, your image is that you wear fake stuff and try to pass it as real. That is the only reason why someone would buy CZ. If you are ok with that image, then go for it.

For me, I don't do fake anything. If I cannot afford a specific piece I want, I would never go fake with CZ. Just my two cents.
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I see where you're coming from on this. I don't have a problem telling anyone who asks what my jewelry is.

I think my question was more about whether there is ever a time when it might not be worth it to pay for diamonds, or when something else might be not exactly *as good* but also beautiful. For example, I have seen people mention on other threads that they do not wear diamond studs because they get lost so easily. I think I feel differently about this because studs are often a larger stone and I feel it is worth it to have real diamonds, but I have noticed as I start getting more into jewelry that some pave styles and other things can be just as beautiful in a different white stone such as sapphire, or yes, even CZ.

I personally feel that it's less about being "fake" and more about about appreciating other materials for their own beauty. I feel hesitant to buy CZ anything just because I know that they are not as durable, but I wondered if others have had different experiences with them or other stones.
 
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#5
willeyi said:
To CZ or not is all about the image you want to portray to the world. If you wear CZ, your image is that you wear fake stuff and try to pass it as real. That is the only reason why someone would buy CZ. If you are ok with that image, then go for it.

For me, I don't do fake anything. If I cannot afford a specific piece I want, I would never go fake with CZ. Just my two cents.
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I lose earrings. All. The. Time. I have told my husband to please not buy me diamond studs. All of my diamonds are real except for my ears and I will admit it any day. Nothing wrong with wearing CZs especially when you aren't trying to pass them off as diamonds.
 
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#7
I would only purchase CZ's for earrings that I was only going to wear once or twice for a special occasion like the items below I purchased when I had to chaperone prom for the high school I was teaching at.
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#8
I'm not keen on the idea of cz although I did wear some cz jewellery items when I was younger. I would rather save now for real diamond jewellery of good quality. I do like cz or similar jewellery on others though - I saw someone wearing some gorgeous Swarovski earrings recently and they were so sparkly - but I just feel like I would be wasting my money when I could be saving for something that is a better long-term investment.
 
#9
Thanks for the replies, everyone. What about the cost per wear issue? I LOVE sparkly things, but I still think that since many diamond pieces would be something that I would only wear for a special occasion like the dance that @NLVOEWITHLV mentioned, I would not want to pay as much for them as for something like the 1/4 ct studs or pearls that I wear every day. I also hear that the resale value of diamonds is not great, though I have not personally tried to sell any.

Do you guys have any diamonds that you simply don't wear or feel you don't wear enough for the cost of the piece?
 
#10
Clinn236 said:
Thanks for the replies, everyone. What about the cost per wear issue? I LOVE sparkly things, but I still think that since many diamond pieces would be something that I would only wear for a special occasion like the dance that @NLVOEWITHLV mentioned, I would not want to pay as much for them as for something like the 1/4 ct studs or pearls that I wear every day. I also hear that the resale value of diamonds is not great, though I have not personally tried to sell any.

Do you guys have any diamonds that you simply don't wear or feel you don't wear enough for the cost of the piece?
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I guess I was referencing cost per wear in my post. My hubby spent way more then I even care to admit on my 5 carat inside out diamond hoops but I wear them every single day so I get our money's worth. I feel I wouldn't buy real jewelry to be worn one time then sit in my drawer. If you feel this item will be worn for more than just the one time occasion I would purchase diamonds. I do have diamond pearl drops my parents bought for my wedding day but I wear them to formal events and church sometimes.
 
#12
I think that a lot of times the diamonds that are used to accent other gem stones in earrings or a pendant aren't that good of a quality. White sapphire or topaz will work just as well and for less cost.

I wear CZ because I'm a great one for losing earrings--and pendants. If my job brought me into more regular contact with the public I'd probably spring for diamond studs. Otherwise I don't consider the extra sparkle to be worth it. I'm not trying to pass off CZ as diamond jewelry. I wear it because I lead an active life and don't want to worry about losing expensive jewelry. For the occasional business meeting or event pearl studs work well and for a fraction of the cost.
 
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#13
To me, it's more about the overall piece. I find pieces I love that are only offered in silver or brass with CZ and I buy them. It's not about anything other than a piece I love. I'm not going to request a custom piece from another jeweler if it's not offered in gold and diamonds by the original artist.

That said, I do prefer gold and diamonds when possible because if it is a piece I love, I don't want to have to be worried about the maintenance. Honestly, though, I doubt I could tell the difference in stones and pay no attention to whether someone is wearing diamonds or CZ. The only perception I have is the wearer probably likes sparkly things.
 
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#14
I have a few diamond pieces, but tend to reserve them for evening functions. The sparkly look is much dressier than my everyday style, and it's been quite some time since I've shopped for pieces like this.

I do like the idea of conflict-free stones, and since that's not always easy to guarantee, I think that perhaps lab-created diamonds and moissanite could work as acceptable substitutes. (I've heard that CZ can become cloudy after a while, but don't know how true that is, since I generally live in pearls.)
 
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#15
I bought a pair of cz earrings recently for travel. We were going to Atlantis with DS2 last spring and I knew I would be expected to spend my days on the water slides. It's one of the few places I've ever been to as an adult where I knew it would be a bad idea to bring my good things. Since then I haven't worn them, but I know many women prefer to wear inexpensive jewelry for travel. Other than that, I suppose cz might be a good idea if you are trying a new style and are not sure if it will work for you.
 
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