When Was Cubic Zirconia Discovered?

In 1937, German mineralogists M. V. Stackelberg and K. Chudoba discovered naturally occurring cubic zirconia in the form of microscopic grains included in metamict zircon.

When was cubic zirconia invented?

Cubic zirconia is a simulated , man-made gemstone that first came onto the market in the late 1970s. At the time, no one had seen anything like it before. Here was a gem that looked reminiscent of diamonds.

Is zirconia naturally occurring?

Zirconia and cubic zirconia

Often referred to as a synthetic diamond, cubic zirconia has become a popular gemstone due to its optically clear single crystals and its high refractive index. Zirconia also occurs naturally as the mineral baddeleyite.