Let's Talk About Sparkle

(And Why I'm Done with Cubic Zirconia)

Okay friends, we need to have a REAL talk about stones.

Specifically: Why the hell did I ever think cubic zirconia was good enough for YOUR rings?

Spoiler alert: It's not. And I'm fixing that.

My CZ Wake-Up Call

About four months ago, a customer emailed me. She'd been wearing her ring daily for five years (GOOD - that's what it's for!), but her CZ stones were cloudy.

Not dirty. CLOUDY. Permanently foggy.

When I got the ring back and looked at those stones under magnification? They were scratched to hell. Tiny scratches from barn work, washing hands, LIFE. Things that wouldn't even touch a real diamond were slowly destroying the CZ.

And I realized: I'm asking people to trust me with their horse's hair - something IRREPLACEABLE - and I'm setting it next to stones that won't last??

Nope. Not anymore.

The Real Difference: CZ vs Lab Diamond vs Natural Diamond

Cubic Zirconia (What I'm REMOVING)

• Man-made crystal, NOT a diamond
• Gets cloudy and scratched over time
• Lifespan: 5-10 years before it looks worn
• The problem: Your horse's tail hair will outlast these stones. That's backwards.

Lab-Created Diamonds (What I'm NOW OFFERING)

• REAL diamond, grown in a lab instead of mined
• Hardness 10 (hardest natural material)
• Sparkle: Identical to natural diamonds
• Price: 40-60% less than natural diamonds
• Lifespan: Forever
• Why I love them: Same physics, same chemistry, same sparkle. Just made above ground.

Natural Diamonds (What I'm ALSO OFFERING)

• Diamond formed over billions of years
• Same hardness, same forever lifespan
• Price: Premium
• Why I love them: For customers who want the traditional romance of a natural stone.

"Wait, Lab Diamonds Are REAL Diamonds?"

YES.

LAB-CREATED DIAMONDS ARE CHEMICALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND OPTICALLY IDENTICAL TO NATURAL DIAMONDS.

The ONLY difference is where they came from. One grew in the earth. One grew in a lab.

A gemologist with a microscope can't tell them apart without specialized equipment. They're both pure carbon, both hardness 10, both sparkle the same, both last forever.

Lab diamonds aren't "fake." They're just made faster.

What About Colored Stones?

Still doing them! Sapphires, rubies, emeralds (lab grown or natural!) - they're durable enough to last. They won't cloud up like CZ.

So if you want to add your horse's color to your ring, we can absolutely still do that.

What If I Already Have CZ in My Ring?

• If your CZ stones still look good, keep wearing it!
• Want to upgrade? Trade-in program details coming soon!

The Real Reason I'm Making This Change

If I'm going to promise you a piece that lasts forever, EVERY part needs to deliver on that promise.

Here's What's Changing (February 1st)

• ❌ No more cubic zirconia
• ✅ Lab-created diamonds (affordable, identical to natural)
• ✅ Natural diamonds (traditional option)
• ✅ Quality colored gemstones (still available!)

My recommendation: Go with lab diamonds. Same sparkle as natural, 40-60% more affordable, lasts forever.

Questions about stones? Email me. I'm here. info@verstara.com

Ready to design your ring?  Let's do this →

xo,
Colleen

P.S. "But Colleen, I literally can't tell the difference between lab and natural diamonds" - EXACTLY. Save the money, get the same sparkle. You're welcome. 😉