Wholesale Cubic Zirconia Jewelry: Settings, Colors and Care

Cubic zirconia in a sterling silver range

If you're looking for wholesale cubic zirconia jewelry, you'll find that stone-set silver is one of the most reliable parts of a jewelry shop: it adds sparkle at a price customers find easy to say yes to. It also raises questions that are worth answering before you buy, such as what cubic zirconia is, how stones are set and what to tell customers. This guide covers all of it from the supplier's side.

Ruvolla makes 925 sterling silver jewelry in its own workshop in Fatih, Istanbul. Our cubic zirconia catalog has 446 models across necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings, and every piece is stamped 925.

What cubic zirconia is

Cubic zirconia, usually shortened to CZ, is a lab-made stone. It is a synthetic material, not a natural gemstone. We say this plainly because it's the most important thing for your customers to understand, and honest labelling protects your shop.

What CZ does well is give a bright, clear sparkle at a price that suits everyday silver jewelry. For many customers, that's exactly what they want: a stone that looks good, costs less than a natural gem and doesn't need careful treatment.

Stone settings

How a stone is held affects how the piece looks, how it wears and how you describe it.

Pavé

In pavé, many small stones are set close together so the surface looks covered in sparkle. It's common in pendants, rings and the flat faces of huggie earrings. Because the stones are tiny and numerous, the setting gives a lot of shine without a large central stone. Check the product images for how much of the surface is covered.

Prong

Prong settings hold a stone with small metal claws. They let more light reach the stone and suit single-stone pendants, studs and rings. Tennis bracelets commonly use prong-set stones in a continuous line.

Bezel

A bezel wraps a thin rim of metal around the edge of the stone. It sits lower and is less likely to catch on clothing, which makes it a good option for pieces worn every day or for customers who find prong settings snag.

Our workshop includes a master stone setter and a stone-setting team, so the setting is done in-house rather than outsourced.

Colored CZ

CZ comes in colors as well as clear. Names such as sapphire blue, emerald green or ruby red describe the color of the stone, not the type of gemstone. A "sapphire blue" CZ is a blue cubic zirconia, not a sapphire. Keep that distinction in your product titles and descriptions, and write "blue CZ" or "green cubic zirconia" if there's any doubt.

Colored stones are useful for seasonal refreshes. Blues and greens do well in spring and summer, and deeper reds and greens work for autumn and gift seasons, though your own sales will tell you more than a rule of thumb.

How to describe CZ to customers

Customers trust shops that are clear. A few label ideas:

• "Sterling silver with cubic zirconia"
• "925 sterling silver, cubic zirconia stones"
• "Blue CZ" rather than a gemstone name
• Add the setting where it helps, for example "pavé set CZ"

Avoid wording that implies a natural or high-value stone. If a customer asks, say it's a lab-made stone chosen for its sparkle and affordability. Short, plain wording builds repeat business, and it keeps your product pages consistent when you add new models later.

Plating combinations

CZ pieces can be left as plain silver or plated. We offer 14K gold, rhodium and rose gold plating in our own workshop, with gold plating available in thicknesses from 0.10 to 4 micron, with plating priced per gram.

• Rhodium plating with clear CZ gives a bright, cool look.
• 14K gold plating with clear CZ is a warmer, dressier look.
• Rose gold plating suits colored stones such as pink or blue CZ.
• For pieces worn daily, such as rings and bracelets, we suggest thicker plating, 1.00 micron or above. For more detail, see our gold plating micron guide.

Categories that sell

Pavé pendants and necklaces

A small pavé pendant on a fine chain is an easy gift and a good first CZ purchase for customers. Standard necklace lengths are 40+5 cm and 45+5 cm, so one piece covers most requests.

Slider bracelets and tennis bracelets

Adjustable slider bracelets with CZ fit most wrists. If you want to add a dressier piece, tennis bracelets work too. Browse our bracelets to see both.

Huggie earrings

CZ huggies are popular because they are small, comfortable and easy to wear all day. See our huggie earrings buying guide for details on sizes and closures, or look at the hoops and huggies collection directly.

Rings

CZ rings, including adjustable styles, are an easy way to add sparkle at a low price point.

Caring for CZ jewelry

Customers will ask how to look after their purchase, so give them a simple answer:

• Wipe with a soft cloth after wearing.
• Wash gently with mild soap and warm water, then dry well. A soft brush helps in pavé settings.
• Store pieces separately so stones and plating don't rub against each other.
• Take jewelry off for swimming, cleaning and sleep.

We've written a longer silver jewelry care guide for retailers that you can adapt for your own customers.

Ordering CZ jewelry from Ruvolla

The minimum is 5 pieces per model, and you can mix models and plating in one order. The first order is $500 minimum. Category prices start at roughly $5 for CZ pieces, and exact prices are visible to approved trade accounts. As an order grows, a volume discount applies: 3% above $1,000, 6% above $2,000 and 9% above $3,500.

Everything is made to order. After payment is confirmed, orders ship within about a week, whatever the quantity. Samples are available on request. They're made in a different metal, so they show the design, size and finish but are not silver, and the buyer pays shipping.

To see prices and order, apply for a trade account. You can also look through the full cubic zirconia collection first.

Frequently asked questions

What is cubic zirconia?

Cubic zirconia is a lab-made, synthetic stone with a bright sparkle. It is not a natural gemstone. It's widely used in sterling silver jewelry because it gives good sparkle at an accessible price.

How many cubic zirconia models do you offer?

Our cubic zirconia catalog has 446 models, covering necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Every piece is stamped 925.

What does a name like sapphire blue CZ mean?

It describes the color of the cubic zirconia, not the type of stone. A sapphire blue CZ is a blue lab-made stone, not a sapphire. We suggest labelling these pieces as "blue CZ" to keep descriptions clear.

Can CZ jewelry be plated?

Yes. We plate pieces in our own workshop in 14K gold, rhodium or rose gold, with gold plating available in thicknesses from 0.10 to 4 micron. Plating is priced per gram.

What is the minimum order for CZ jewelry?

The minimum is 5 pieces per model, and you can mix models and plating. The first order must be at least $500.

Looking for a premium stone instead? See moissanite set in 925 silver.