Gemstone Hardness

"Gemstone Hardness" is the resistance of a Gemstone to being scratched.

The table below shows the hardness of popular gemstones on the Mohs' Scale.The Mohs' Scale runs from 1 to 10. The position of a gem on the scale depends on its' ability to scratch gems rated lower. We can see diamonds at the top, meaning, no other gem can scratch a diamond. Please note, this does not mean a diamond cannot be broken or chippen. Diamonds are hard but not tough ( refer to our blog for more information ). Also remember diamonds can scratch each other.
Our Blog Posts will give you in-depth methods to use this scale when decided what type of jewellery to buy. This Scale is not a measure of a gems ability to resist chipping or breaking. This scale is about the ability of resisting scratches.

	Diamond	10
	Ruby	9
	Star Ruby	9
	Sapphire	9
	Star Sapphire	9
	Alexandrite	8.5
	Alexandrite Cat's Eye	8.5
	Chrysoberyl	8.5
	Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye	8.5
	Chrysoberyl Vanadium	8.5
	Taaffeite	8-8.5
	Spinel	8
	Tpoaz	8
	Imperial Topaz	8
	Pezzotaite	8
	Emerald	7.5-8
	Enstatite	7.5-8
	Aquamarine	7.5-8
	Morganite	7.5-8
	Goshenite Beryl	7.5-8
	Golden Beryl	7.5-8
	Painite	7.5-8
	Phenakite	7.5-8
	Red Beryl (Bixbite)	7.5-8
	Andalusite	7.5
	Euclase	7.5
	Grandidierite	7.5
	Hambergite	7.5
	Dumortierite	7-8.5
	Almandine Garnet	7-7.5
	Danburite	7-7.5
	Iolite	7-7.5
	Pyrope Garnet	7-7.5
	Spessartite Garnet	7-7.5
	Rhodolite Garnet	7-7.5
	Colour-Change Garnet	7-7.5
	Chrome Tourmaline	7-7.5
	Malaia Garnet	7-7.5
	Paraiba Tourmaline	7-7.5
	Rubellite Tourmaline	7-7.5
	Tourmaline	7-7.5
	Uvarovite Garnet	7-7.5
	Amethyst Quartz	7
	Aventurine Quartz	7
	Ametrine Quartz	7
	Citrine Quartz	7
	Gem Silica	7
	Kornerupine	7
	Rock Crystal	7
	Rose Quartz	7
	Smoky Quartz	7
	Jeremejevite	6.5-7.5
	Sillimanite	6.5-7.5
	Zircon	6.5-7.5
	Agate	6.5-7
	Axinite	6.5-7
	Bloodstone	6.5-7
	Carnelian	6.5-7
	Chalcedony	6.5-7
	Chrome Chalcedony	6.5-7
	Chrysoprase	6.5-7
	Demantoid Garnet	6.5-7
	Diaspore	6.5-7
	Grossular Garnet	6.5-7
	Hessonite Garnet	6.5-7
	Hiddenite	6.5-7
	Jadeite Jade	6.5-7
	Jasper	6.5-7
	Mali Garnet	6.5-7
	Kunzite	6.5-7
	Leuco Garnet	6.5-7
	Onyx	6.5-7
	Peridot	6.5-7
	Serendibite	6.5-7
	Sinhalite	6.5-7
	Spodumene	6.5-7
	Tanzanite	6.5-7
	Tsavorite Garnet	6.5-7
	Idocrase	6.5
	Cassiterite	6-7
	Epidote	6-7
	Maw-Sit-Sit	6-7
	Unakite	6-7
	Amazonite	6-6.5
	Andesine	6-6.5
	Oligoclase	6-6.5
	Benitoite	6-6.5
	Labradorite	6-6.5
	Moonstone	6-6.5
	Nephrite Jade	6-6.5
	Orthoclase	6-6.5
	Petalite	6-6.5
	Prehnite	6-6.5
	Scheelite	6-6.5
	Sugilite	6-6.5
	Sunstone	6-6.5
	Zoisite	6-6.5
	Amblygonite	6
	Clinohumite	6
	Hematite	5.5-6.5
	Fire Opal	5.5-6.5
	Opal	5.5-6.5
	Rhodonite	5.5-6.5
	Actinolite	5.5-6
	Azurite	5.5-6
	Hackmanite	5.5-6
	Hauyne	5.5-6
	Scapolite	5.5-6
	Sodalite	5.5-6
	Moldavite	5.5
	Diopside	5-6
	Chrome Diopside	5-6
	Lapis Lazuli	5-6
	Poudretteite	5-6
	Turquoise	5-6
	Brazilianite	5.5
	Datolite	5-5.5
	Eudialyte	5-5.5
	Obsidian	5-5.5
	Sphene	5-5.5
	Apatite	5
	Cat's Eye Apatite	5
	Dioptase	5
	Hemimorphite	5
	Smithsonite	5
	Charoite	4.5-5
	Gaspeite	4.5-5
	Larimar	4.5-5
	Kyanite	4-7
	Bastnasite	4-5
	Carletonite	4-4.5
	Ammolite (Korite)	4
	Fluorite	4
	Rhodochrosite	4
	Williamsite	4
	Aragonite	3.5-4
	Azurite	3.5-4
	Cuprite	3.5-4
	Malachite	3.5-4
	Sphalerite	3.5-4
	Coral	3-4
	Barite	3-3.5
	Celestine	3-3.5
	Cerussite	3-3.5
	Howlite	3-3.5
	Calcite	3
	Cobaltocalcite	3
	Pearl	2.5-4.5
	Jet	2.5-4
	Lepidolite	2.5-3
	Chrysocolla	2-4
	Amber	2-2.5
	Cinnabar	2-2.5
	Ulexite	2-2.5