Imitation jewellery mostly uses four kinds of stone: cubic zirconia (CZ), glass, acrylic or resin, and natural semi-precious stones. CZ gives the most sparkle and durability, glass gives colour at a lower price, acrylic is the lightest and cheapest, and semi-precious stones add natural material to higher-priced pieces.
The choice changes price, weight, look and how the piece survives wear and shipping.
Cubic zirconia (CZ)
CZ is a synthetic crystal that looks like diamond. In India it is often called American diamond, or AD. It is hard, takes a sharp cut and keeps its sparkle well, which is why it dominates bridal and party jewellery. Coloured CZ is available in many shades.
Quality varies with the cut and the grade. Better CZ has cleaner facets, more even colour and fewer bubbles or chips.
Glass
Glass stones cover a huge range, from plain moulded glass to precision-cut crystal glass and the coloured stones used in kundan and temple jewellery. Glass is softer than CZ, so facets can scratch and edges can chip. It gives strong colour at a lower cost.
Kundan work usually uses glass with a foil backing to reflect light. Temple jewellery often uses red and green glass stones known as kemp.
Acrylic and resin
Acrylic and resin stones are light, cheap and easy to colour. They suit large statement earrings, where glass or CZ would be too heavy, and children's pieces, where weight and cost matter. They scratch easily and look less brilliant, so they are not used where sparkle is the selling point.
Semi-precious stones
Natural stones such as agate, onyx, quartz, amethyst and others appear on higher-priced fashion and silver pieces. They vary naturally in colour and pattern, so matching across a lot is harder. Some are dyed or treated, which you should disclose when you sell.
Points to specify
- Stone type, colour and size in millimetres for each position.
- Cut and grade for CZ, and any treatment for natural stones.
- Setting method, since glued glass and set CZ behave differently.
- Compliance needs: some markets restrict lead and cadmium, and coloured glass and coatings can contain them, so include stones in your lab tests.
What this means for a buyer
Match the stone to the price and the customer. A common quality problems guide explains how cheap stones show up in returns.
Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We check stones against your approved sample in Rajkot, arrange lab tests at NABL-accredited labs and supervise packing. Ask for a free sourcing review.