I am excited to share with you two new additions to the Orion collection, this collection has so far featured beautiful Black Spinel and Amethyst faceted gemstones but I felt a lighter option was missing. Wanting to keep the range affordable and accessible to everyone I decided Cubic Zirconia was a cost effective yet just as beautiful option.

What is Cubic Zirconia? Cubic Zirconia is a man-made alternative to Diamonds with a similar crystal clarity and brilliance. You can purchase Cubic Zirconia without worrying so much about the ethics behind where they come from as they are artificially synthesised, this also means they are flawless as well as very tough. To the untrained eye it is very hard to tell the difference between Diamond and Cubic Zirconia. 

There are some arguments for Diamonds over Cubic Zirconia. Diamonds do not lose their sparkle over time, which unfortunately Cubic Zirconia can, they also rate at 10 on the Mohs scale (being the hardest mineral on earth) so they simply don't scratch which unfortunately CZ do despite being pretty tough. Diamonds hold their value and beauty, so if you are considering jewellery you want to enjoy for a lifetime and become a family heirloom their are a lot of pros in the Diamond corner. Because of this I will also be offering the option to have items from the Orion collection made to order with conflict free diamonds. These Diamonds are ethically sourced from a trusted seller, they are brilliant white, otherwise known as 'commercial white' and are S13 clarity graded and .1ct. 

So where I started out wanting to offer an affordable but beautiful option for those who love a bit of sparkle I also could not ignore the plus points for Diamonds and how they may be more conducive with the slow-fashion ethos I am working towards. Both options are now available in the online store. I would love to hear your thoughts, Diamond or Cubic Zirconia?! and what your reasons behind your preference are.