Why Zirconia Ceramic?

Increased margin.  The use of zirconia ceramic reduces the component cost of jewelry while maintaining the luxury look and feel.  This winning combination creates increased margin and retention at retail. 

Cost reduction.  Zirconia ceramic is approximately 80% less than the cost of 14kt gold and 50% less than the cost of silver.  The use of ceramic can significantly reduce material costs for jewelry.

Trend longevity.  Zirconia ceramic has become a long-term trend securing solid results with prominent brands such as Chanel, Dior, Cartier, and David Yurman. 

Durability.  Zirconia ceramic—rated at a hardness of 8.9 on the Mohs scale (similar to sapphire crystal)—is highly scratch resistant. The zirconia ceramic used by The Luxe Group has a 99% density of material. This means the finished product has no porosity to the naked eye and very little under a jeweler’s loupe. Porosity in ceramic results in a weakening of the material. 

Colors and Finishes. We offer over 200 base colors, including classic white and black. These colors never fade. The Luxe Group, Ltd. has developed proprietary metallic finishes in six colors as well as surface treatments such as matte, textured, hammered, polished, and laser etching.

Environmentally friendly. The material used in zirconia ceramic is readily available on all continents and is mined using environmentally friendly techniques.

Specific Gravity. Zirconia ceramic is a 6.00 on the Specific Gravity Chart.

Specific Gravity weight comparison for zirconia ceramic (%):

Platinum:                  21.40 = 28%

950 Platinum:          20.10 = 30%

24k Gold:                 19.30 = 31%

22k Gold:                 17.70 = 34%

18k White Gold:        14.70 - 16.90 (15.80) = 38%

18k Yellow Gold:       15.20 - 15.90 (15.55) = 39%

14k Gold:                  12.90 - 14.60 (13.75) = 44%

Palladium:                12.00 = 50%

Silver:                       10.50 = 57%

Production Methods. The Luxe Group, Ltd. uses the traditional method of injection molding and the proprietary method of Stereo Laser Lithography.

Post-Production Characteristics. Zirconia ceramic can be drilled, grinded, and polished by those with a highly trained skill set. 

Firing Temperature. The firing process for ceramic varies from 3 to 6 days and can reach temperatures up to 1500°C (2732°F). Firing the ceramic is highly complex because of the incremental temperature levels and cooling process.

Proprietary Research and Development. The Luxe Group, Ltd.  and partners utilize proprietary R&D to create Gilded Ceramic, co-mingling of Ceramic/Metal and Ceramic/Rubber, Stereo Laser Lithography, and structural adherence of metal components.