Editing Cubic zirconia (section)

==History==
Discovered in 1892, the yellowish monoclinic mineral [[baddeleyite]] is a natural form of zirconium oxide.<ref name= Bayanova/>

The high melting point of zirconia (2750&nbsp;°C or 4976&nbsp;°F) hinders controlled growth of single crystals. However, stabilization of cubic zirconium oxide had been realized early on, with the synthetic product ''stabilized zirconia'' introduced in 1929. Although cubic, it was in the form of a [[polycrystalline]] [[ceramic]]: it was used as a [[refractory]] material, highly resistant to chemical and thermal attack (up to 2540&nbsp;°C or 4604&nbsp;°F).<ref name=growth/>

In 1937, German [[mineralogy|mineralogists]] M. V. Stackelberg and K. Chudoba discovered naturally occurring cubic zirconia in the form of microscopic grains included in [[Metamictisation|metamict]] zircon. This was thought to be a byproduct of the metamictization process, but the two scientists did not think the mineral important enough to give it a formal name. The discovery was confirmed through [[X-ray diffraction]], proving the existence of a natural counterpart to the synthetic product.<ref name=chudoba/><ref name=chic>{{cite web|title=Understanding more about Cubic Zirconia|url=http://chicjewelry.com/blog/understanding-more-about-cubic-zirconia/|publisher=Chic Jewelry|access-date=6 December 2013|year=2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214145340/http://chicjewelry.com/blog/understanding-more-about-cubic-zirconia/|archive-date=14 December 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

As with the majority of [[crystal growth|grown]] [[Diamond simulant|diamond substitutes]], the idea of producing single-crystal cubic zirconia arose in the minds of scientists seeking a new and versatile material for use in [[lasers]] and other optical applications. Its production eventually exceeded that of earlier synthetics, such as synthetic [[strontium titanate]], synthetic [[rutile]], [[Yttrium aluminium garnet|YAG]] ([[yttrium]] [[aluminium]] [[garnet]]) and [[gadolinium gallium garnet|GGG]] ([[gadolinium]] [[gallium]] garnet).

Some of the earliest research into controlled single-crystal growth of cubic zirconia occurred in 1960s France, much work being done by Y. Roulin and R. Collongues. This technique involved molten zirconia being contained within a thin shell of still-solid zirconia, with crystal growth from the melt. The process was named ''cold crucible'', an allusion to the system of water cooling used. Though promising, these attempts yielded only small crystals.

Later, [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] scientists under V. V. Osiko in the [[Laser]] Equipment Laboratory at the [[Lebedev Physical Institute]] in Moscow perfected the technique, which was then named ''[[skull crucible]]'' (an allusion either to the shape of the water-cooled container or to the form of crystals sometimes grown). They named the jewel ''Fianit'' after the institute's name [[Lebedev Physical Institute|FIAN]] (Physical Institute of the Academy of Science), but the name was not used outside of the USSR.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} This was known at the time as the Institute of Physics at the Russian Academy of Science.<ref name="rscz">{{cite news |title=Cubic Zirconia |url=https://rusgems.org/products/1/fianit/ |access-date=3 April 2021 |publisher=RusGems |archive-date=28 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428004700/https://rusgems.org/products/1/fianit/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Their breakthrough was published in 1973, and commercial production began in 1976.<ref name=Hesse/> In 1977, cubic zirconia began to be mass-produced in the jewelry marketplace by the Ceres Corporation, with crystals stabilized with 94% yttria. Other major producers as of 1993 include [[Taiwan Crystal Company Ltd]], [[Swarovski]] and ICT inc.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last1=Stuart |first1=Sam |chapter=Glass and Gemstones |pages=91–93 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OisXBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA91 |title=Zirconia |date=2013 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-1-4831-9400-4 }}</ref><ref name=chic/> By 1980, annual global production had reached 60 million [[Carat (unit)|carats]] (12 tonnes) and continued to increase, with production reaching around 400 tonnes per year in 1998.<ref name=":0" />

Because the natural form of cubic zirconia is so rare, all cubic zirconia used in jewelry has been synthesized, one method of which was [[patent]]ed by Josep F. Wenckus & Co. in 1997.<ref>{{cite patent |country=US|number=4488821 |status=Patent |title=Method and means of rapidly distinguishing a simulated diamond from natural diamond |gdate=1984-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewelrymaterialguide.com/cubic-zirconia-vs-zircon/|title=Cubic Zirconia VS Zircon - 6 Ways To Tell Them Apart|first=Ioana|last=Ciuraru|date=2 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gioiellis.com/en/tag/zircon/|title=zirconi Archives &#124; gioiellis.com|date=25 April 2024|website=gioiellis.com}}</ref>