We all know the answer is diamond but did you know there is a whole scale dedicated to the rest? Known as the Mohs Scale, it ranks minerals by their ability to scratch each other; #1 being the softest mineral and #10 the hardest. It is an important factor to consider when choosing your jewellery as it can determine what designs suit a particular stone, how to look after them and prevent them from being damaged.
A badly scratched Tourmaline (7-7.5 on the Mohs Scale)
The test compares the resistance of a mineral as it is scratched by ten different minerals, hence the name Mohs Hardness Scale. It is a relative scale, not proportionate, meaning that a mineral with a hardness of #10 will not be twice as hard as a 5.
German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs, who developed the scale in 1812, selected ten minerals of distinctly different hardness that range from soft mineral (talc) to a very hard mineral (diamond).
Amber: 2-2.5
Mother of Pearl: 2.5-4.5
Opal: 5.5-6.5
Moonstone: 6-6.5
Emerald: 7.5-8
Quartz: 8
Ruby and Sapphire: 9
Diamond: 10
Remember to take this scale into account when picking your next gemstone and by all means ask your jeweller if you are ever unsure.
German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs, who developed the scale in 1812, selected ten minerals of distinctly different hardness that range from soft mineral (talc) to a very hard mineral (diamond).
Amber: 2-2.5
Mother of Pearl: 2.5-4.5
Opal: 5.5-6.5
Moonstone: 6-6.5
Emerald: 7.5-8
Quartz: 8
Ruby and Sapphire: 9
Diamond: 10
Remember to take this scale into account when picking your next gemstone and by all means ask your jeweller if you are ever unsure.
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