Hardness - Mohs scale

Every gemstone listing you find on this site includes information about its hardness, along with a number. Here are some explanations to help you better understand this aspect of gemstones and make more informed choices.

Hardness

One of the most important and often overlooked characteristics of stones is their hardness. A stone's hardness defines its resistance to scratches and abrasion (friction), making it a crucial factor in its use in jewelry. It also determines its resistance to everyday wear and tear. The harder a stone is, the longer it will retain its luster and shine for years, while less hard stones may show signs of wear more quickly. Hardness does not take into account the impact resistance known as toughness.

Mohs scale

Hardness is most often assessed using the Mohs hardness scale , named after the mineralogist Friedrich Mohs who created it in 1812. This scale ranks minerals according to their ability to scratch other minerals. It ranges from 1 (very soft) to 10 (very hard).

A mineral scratches those of lesser or equal hardness, but not those of greater hardness.

For each level there is a reference stone which are as follows:

1. Talc
2. Gypsum – Scratched by the nail
3. Calcite – Scratched by a coin
4. Fluorite - Scratched by a file.
5. Apatite – Scratched by a knife
6. Orthoclase -
7. Quartz – It scratches the glass
8. Topaz
9. Corundum - Corundum is better known in its form of ruby ​​or sapphire.
10. Diamond – It is only scratched by itself.

Use in jewelry/jewelry

From 6.5 – 7 and above, you can mount jewelry without too much trouble. Of course, the lower you are in this range, the more careful you will have to be with your jewelry or during its manufacture.

5-6 is more complicated. It's best to avoid rings, which are the jewelry most exposed to everyday shocks and friction. They can possibly be mounted as pendants or earrings. You must go through an experienced setter to carry out the mounting, otherwise the stone may be damaged.

For stones with a hardness of 4 ...like fluorite, sphalerite. It's not impossible, but we don't make everyday jewelry with it. And especially not rings. We're talking jewelry for quiet evenings.