Silver Earrings with White Cubic Zirconia Sadie

Silver 925 is an alloy consisting of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper

The zirconia used in jewelry (cubic zirconia) is a stone that’s entirely man-made.

It’s zirconium dioxide melted at over 2700°C and carefully crystallized to obtain a clear, inclusion-free stone.

It’s virtually absent in nature — a triumph of the lab.

It even has a Cold War backstory: it was perfected by Soviet scientists at the Lebedev Institute in Moscow in the 1970s, under the name “fianit”.

The result mimics a diamond’s fire so well that it has become the most popular sparkling and affordable alternative to diamond.

Good to know: it’s different from “zircon,” which is a completely separate natural gemstone.

Most often it’s colorless, mirroring diamond, but it can be produced in any color.

Its strong brilliance is beautifully showcased in 925 silver and gold.

As a modern stone, it doesn’t have its own symbolic tradition, but it’s loved for its sparkle and versatility.

With a hardness of 8–8,5 it stands up well to everyday wear, requiring only moderate care.

Clean it gently to keep its fire, and it’s right at home in everyday jewelry.