Frequently Asked Questions

A. We have some great resources available to us to help you with this, including custom fitting a band to a particular ring if necessary.  However, many of the traditional solitaires and engagement rings we show on the site may have a band to match.  Contact Us and send a photo if you have one available.  We would like to help! 

Q. Why should I get a CZ instead of a real diamond?

A. As long-time jewelers we also had a dim view of the early quality CZs but like so many innovations, the advances in cubic zirconia quality now visually compares to diamonds…except to a jeweler. The fact is there are a lot of diamond simulants on the market, but few of them have the long term durability and lack of color of a cubic zirconia to match a diamond .The recent explosion of CZ sales reflects that.  There will always be a place for diamonds, but if you want to collect and wear the latest styles, cubic zirconia can keep it affordable.  A large diamond (over 1 carat) may cost as much or more than a small car.  Try insuring a diamond of that size and see what your insurance agent tells you!  You can have several great pieces of Cubic Zirconia jewelry without breaking your budget. 

Q. Why are some of the rings only available in whole sizes?

A.  For some styles, ex. Eternity bands, the placement of stones around the entire ring requires that each stone have its own place to set. Thereby, creating an unbroken circle or eternity without breaks. Seems clichéd perhaps but the placements are precise. 

Q. Why do my shipping and billing addresses have to match to complete my order?

A. Great question!  In the world of internet shopping, everyone with any sense at all has concerns about online security.  So do the credit card companies that process your orders.  They require that companies processing the order requests verify the card with various groups of information, including the address of the card owner.  They want to make sure that the piece goes to the person making the purchase – YOU.  It is as simple as that.  Contact us for more information. 

Q. If my ring size is not on your selection drop down, can I get the ring made to my size?

A. Normally many of the rings (and some of the bracelets) can be made to other sizes.  Many jewelers can cut down or widen out the ring easily.  Styles like solitaires can be done with little difficulty.  However, this not the preferred method, and will not work for very heavyweight, i.e. men’s, or intricate styles such as pave settings.   It is nearly always better to have such an item made to your size from the beginning.  Keep in mind that this must be considered a special order due to the relative rarity of such a size.

Q. What is cubic zirconia?

Cubic zirconia (or CZ) is zirconium oxide (ZrO2), a mineral that is extremely rare in nature but is widely synthesized for use as a diamond simulant. The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors. It should not be confused with zircon, which is a zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4).

Because of its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to diamond, synthetic cubic zirconia has remained the most gemologically and economically important diamond simulant since 1976. Its main competition as a synthetic gemstone is the more recently cultivated material moissanite.

Q. Do US and other countries ring sizes differ?

A. Yes.  See the chart we have provided below to check your size.  If you are not sure, then check out the sizing tool.  The tool only shows US sizing, and should be printed on heavy paper if possible to prevent tearing. 

Q. What does CZInventory.com do to keep my personal information secure?

A. Frankly, everything we can and then some.  We follow federal and credit card guidelines to the letter and we use the latest in encryption technology on the site throughout, and in any email we may exchange with you.  We do not retain any personal data beyond what is needed to complete your order.  Check out our privacy policy. 

Q. I don’t want my co-workers to know I bought a cz.  How do I choose a stone that will not look too large?

A.  Size is certainly in the eye of the beholder.  A common wooden pencil eraser is slightly larger than a one carat size round stone.  The millimeter sizes of stones most jewelers can purchase and place on a ring or pendant are the same as for a diamond of the same carat weight.  The best rule of thumb we have found is to relate the size of the stone to your own hands or body size.  Slender fingers or delicate young ears may need a smaller center or series of stones, while a larger size may require a larger stone to appear more proportionate.  Check on the chart below to relate carat weight to a millimeter size (a common chart in the jewelry industry).  Most rulers are available now with millimeter markings.  Try cutting out a small circle or square on a sticky note and setting it on your finger or ear.  Check out the nearest millimeter size and there you are. 

Q.  How Should I Clean My new Jewelry?

Gold is lustrous and very easy to keep looking beautiful for years to come. Its worst enemy, however, is chlorine especially on white gold. Repeated exposure can weaken gold's structure, eventually leading to breakage. Try to keep your gold jewelry away from chlorinated cleaning products, swimming pools and Jacuzzis. To clean, follow our enclosed guidelines for the recommended solution or use lukewarm, soapy water. Rinse with clear water, then dry and polish with a soft chamois cloth. For harder-to-clean "gold-only" pieces, your local jeweler can steam-clean them many times this service is free.
 

Below are some additional fun facts we felt may be of interest to you.

From our friends at the Jewelry Information center (jic.org)

1. What Does "Carat" Mean, and How Much Does One Actually Weigh?

The word "Carat" comes from the Greek name of a seed, which was first used in ancient times as a measure of weight. A carat weighs seven-thousandths of an ounce, and about 142 of them are needed to make a single ounce. The carat is divided into 100 points, so that when a woman says her diamond is a quarter of a carat, for example, she means it is 25 points.

2. Which Came First - The Engagement Ring or the Wedding Ring?

Curiously enough, historians are unable to agree on this. The use of two rings, however, can be traced back to the time when it was the custom to give the prospective bride a ring at the time marriage was proposed and, to conform to religious requirements, the marriage was delayed until some later time. When the wedding took place, the bridegroom signified that his betrothal assurances were still valid by presenting another ring, a plain band of holy union.

3. Why is the Engagement Ring Worn on the Third Finger of the Left Hand?

It was once believed that the vein of love (vena amoris) ran from this finger directly to the heart. Romantic as this may be, medical science does not support this view. Practically speaking, the third finger is more convenient as a matter of protection for the ring itself, since the first and second are too active. The left hand was chosen for the ring because it normally is less active than the right, hence safer. Approximately 75% of women receive diamond engagement rings before marriage.

4. What Does the Word "Jewelry" Really Mean?  

According to the Latin and French derivation of the word, it means joy or gladness. Historians say that even back in prehistoric times jewelry was known and regarded as a symbol of happiness, strength, and status.