"Diamond Hardness" Do you know how hard a diamond is? We have a vague idea that diamonds are hard, but how hard are they actually?
All gemstones seem hard, but they can chip if dropped or hit. In fact, I have been in a panic many times when I accidentally hit my ring while wearing it and had to check it... In this article, we will introduce the "hardness of gemstones" in jewelry, including diamonds.
table of contents
- The Mohs scale, a measure of mineral hardness
- Is diamond the hardest gemstone in the world? Top 5 hardest gemstones
- Can only diamonds be polished by other diamonds? Will they break?
- Lab-grown diamonds have the exact same properties as natural diamonds
- in conclusion
1. The Mohs scale, a measure of mineral hardness
Even if you are not very knowledgeable about gemstones, you have probably heard that "diamonds are the hardest gemstones in the world." But if that is true, how is it said that diamonds are the hardest gemstones in the world?
In fact, there is a scale called the "Mohs hardness" that was invented in 1812 by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs as a measure of mineral hardness .
Citation: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Friedrich Mohs
Divided into 10 levels, the softest is "1" and the hardest is "10," and each level has a corresponding mineral. The hardness standard is based on whether a mineral can be scratched by itself , and the more it is scratched, the lower the Mohs hardness is.
To give a simple example, our fingernails have a Mohs hardness of about 2.5, and minerals that can be scratched by fingernails have a Mohs hardness of 2.5 or less. However, the Mohs hardness scale is a relative scale and does not indicate the absolute hardness of minerals . It is rated based solely on whether a mineral can scratch another mineral.
Diamonds are rated as the highest level of hardness, 10, on the Mohs scale, making them the hardest gemstone in the world. Currently, there are no other natural objects with a Mohs hardness of 10 other than diamonds.
2. Is diamond the hardest gemstone in the world? Top 5 hardest gemstones
We know that diamonds are the hardest in the world according to the Mohs hardness scale, but some of you may be wondering how other gemstones are. So, we would like to introduce the top 5 gemstones with high hardness.
1. Diamond - Hardness 10
[Characteristics] The hardest gemstone in the world. It has high transparency, strong luster and high refractive index. It is mainly used for engagement rings and high-end jewelry.
②Corundum - Hardness 9
Characteristics: Known as ruby (red) and sapphire (blue), they are hard and durable, found in a variety of colors, and are also used in jewelry and industrial applications.
3) Chrysoberyl - Hardness 8.5
[Characteristics] Also known as Chrysoberyl, it can have a cat's eye effect. It also contains Alexandrite (a color-changing gemstone), and is considered rare and expensive.
4. Topaz - Hardness 8
[Characteristics] It is available in colors such as colorless, blue, yellow, and pink, and has high transparency. It is relatively hard, but prone to breaking. It is used for jewelry and sculptures.
⑤Beryl - Hardness 7.5 to 8
[Characteristics] Known as emerald (green) and aquamarine (blue-green), they are characterized by their vivid color and transparency. Although widely used in jewelry, emeralds are a fragile gemstone.
*The above rankings are based not only on hardness, but also on beauty, rarity, and uses.
3. Can only diamonds be polished by other diamonds? Will they break?
Diamonds are the hardest of all gemstones. Due to their hardness, diamonds can only be cut by other diamonds. As mentioned earlier, the Mohs hardness scale does not indicate absolute hardness, so "unbreakable" and "sturdy" are different things.
To get straight to the point, diamonds have a property called "cleavage," which means that they will break when force is applied from a certain direction.
As shown in this diagram, diamonds have cleavage, so even if their hardness is 10, they are weak against forces from certain directions and can easily break if hit with a hammer, hit against a sharp object, or dropped at a certain angle.
To avoid the cleavage of a diamond and create a brilliant cut as shown in the figure , it is cut in the following way.
1) Laser sawing: A laser is used to make precise cuts to prevent splitting along cleavage planes.
2) Blocking: Diamonds are rubbed together to create a rough shape resembling an octahedron.
③ Facet cut: Facets are cut at specific angles, paying particular attention to the cleavage planes. *Facets are small flat surfaces on the surface of a gemstone.
④Polishing: A polishing machine is used to give it a smooth finish so that it reflects light effectively.
↑This process prevents cleavage and transforms the diamond crystal into a beautiful brilliant cut.
For this reason, the "cut" of a diamond, which is also included in the "4Cs," the four standards for evaluating diamond quality, is very important when it comes to diamonds, as diamonds with a girdle that is too thin or a culet that is too sharp are more likely to break when set.
Diamonds are gemstones made up of regular octahedral crystals, and cleavage is the ability of a diamond to break along the weaker bonds between its atoms .
4. Lab-grown diamonds have the exact same properties as natural diamonds
As mentioned above, currently there is no material in nature other than diamond that has a Mohs hardness of 10. However, with advances in science and technology in recent years, extremely hard materials have been artificially created.
Diamonds that are primarily used for industrial and research purposes are made up of nanoscale diamond particles and come in several varieties, including "nanocrystalline diamond," which is extremely hard and durable, and boron-doped diamond, which is second only to diamond in hardness and is used as an industrial abrasive.
Among them, lab-grown diamonds are attracting attention because they have the exact same scientific, physical and optical properties as natural diamonds. Not only are they made from the same carbon as natural diamonds, but they also have the exact same crystal structure and hardness.
The only difference between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds is that lab-grown diamonds are grown in machines in a laboratory, replicating the process and environment in which natural diamonds are formed.
The process of creating lab-grown diamonds is kind to the earth, with almost no burden on the environment, such as soil or air pollution. In addition, because they are grown in laboratories that are free from conflicts and labor issues, they are attracting attention around the world as an ethical jewelry that is environmentally friendly and can be supplied steadily. They are sold at a price about 30% to 40% lower than natural diamonds, making them affordable and popular with the younger generation.
What are lab-grown diamonds? 7 points to understand just by reading this!
5. Conclusion
What did you think? This time, we talked about the hardness of diamonds. Diamonds are said to be the hardest in the world, and their beauty and rarity have fascinated people for centuries and continue to be loved by people all over the world at this very moment. Diamonds have a special presence that other gemstones do not have.
Most of the time, gemstones are processed and worn as jewelry such as rings and necklaces. This type of jewelry does not only depend on the brilliance of the gemstone, but also on the quality of the stone, the proportions of the cut, and the knowledge and skills of the craftsman who sets the stone. Please take good care of the wonderful jewelry you have now.
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