Question: are cubic zirconia as hard as diamonds?
Answer: Cubic zirconia is relatively hard, 8–8.5 on the Mohs scale—slightly harder than most semi-precious natural gems. Its refractive index is high at 2.15–2.18 (compared to 2.42 for diamonds) and its luster is vitreous. Its dispersion is very high at 0.058–0.066, exceeding that of diamond (0.044).