PVD and color CZs

Jewelry Discussion
1

Yesterday at the MJSA show, I found some lovely new colors of CZ,
both in terms of “colored CZ” and as PVD coated CZs. I don’t use
them all that much, but do have a couple of customers who really like
them, so would like to learn more about them.

I have 3 questions, in particular.

  1. I have successfully cast white CZs in place (in silver and
    gold). Can this be done with colored CZs? How about PVD coated CZs
    (my guess is no, but I don’t know enough about the PVD process to
    know for sure)?

  2. Is PVD coating on CZ pretty much the same as PVD on topaz?
    (i.e., it will eventually abrade off if set in a way that exposes the
    stone to rubbing or contact)

  3. So how DO you color a CZ? I’ve assumed that the color is added
    as the CZ is being created and therefore permeates the stone – but
    is that true?

Thanks for any insight you folks can give me - I’ll be playing with
them in the coming weeks and would like to know in advance what to
avoid.

Thanks!
Karen Goeller
@Karen_Goeller
www.nolimitations.com

2 
   I have successfully cast white CZs in place (in silver and
gold). Can this be done with colored CZs?  How about PVD coated CZs
(my guess is no, but I don't know enough about the PVD process to
know for sure)?

Colored CZs, I don’t see why not. I don’t think they would be
affected, but it would be a very small price to pay to find out. I’m
guessing on PVD too, and my guess is exactly the same as yours. But
again, it’d be a small price to pay (especially in silver).

   Is PVD coating on CZ pretty much the same as PVD on topaz?
(i.e., it will eventually abrade off if set in a way that exposes
the stone to rubbing or contact)

Yes

    So how DO you color a CZ?  I've assumed that the color is added
as the CZ is being created and therefore permeates the stone -- but
is that true?

Yes, trace elements are introduced in the manufacturing process.

James in SoFl