Cubic Zirconia is much more affordable than Diamond but wow do they sparkle. They are made of a synthetic material that is not as hard as diamond. One difference between CZ & Diamond is that Zirconia is nearly entirely flawless. Because its man made Zirconia does not have any inclusions. However with the reduced pricetag you will find that a CZ is less durable than a diamond. The stone is more brittle than Diamond but what you have to be aware of is that CZ scratches easily and will start to look worn after time, diamonds don't.