Minerals are assigned a number between 1 and 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale to describe how resistant to scratching they are. Diamonds are given the highest number, a 10. There is nothing that can scratch a diamond except another diamond.
No, a knife cannot scratch a diamond. Only a diamond can scatch another diamond. Diamonds can scatch other diamonds. Diamonds have the maximum of hardness 10 on Mohs Scale of Hardness (that goes from 1 to 10, diamond is 10 and chalk powder being 1 for instance) because of its very compact crystal structure.
Diamonds are almost completely scratch-proof and are one of the gemstones able to withstand abuse from just about every other material – with the exception of another diamond of course.
Can you scratch a diamond with metal? Any metal, whether gold, silver, titanium, or steel, that ranks below the diamond in the Mohs hardness scale will not be able to scratch it. This means that you can relax and not worry if your amazing engagement diamond ring lies with other metal types.
Diamonds are very stable and invulnerable to virtually all acids. They can also withstand higher temperatures than most gemstones. Sudden extreme temperature changes can cause damage, however. Diamonds can chip or fracture from hard impact, especially in areas where the carbon atoms are not tightly bonded.
While there may not be many naturally-occurring materials out there that are stronger than diamonds, certain man-made metals like tungsten and steel have a higher tensile strength. That means a direct hit with an ordinary hammer can absolutely break a diamond.
Diamonds do not shatter when dropped, but they may chip from powerful, accidental blows. They can also break when there is pressure buildup inside the stone called 'strain. ' A small tap results in breakage for the pressure to escape. While it is very rare for diamonds to break this way, it's a fact worth noting.
Mohs Hardness Scale
Diamond is the hardest mineral; no other mineral can scratch a diamond. Quartz is a 7. It can be scratched by topaz, corundum, and diamond. Quartz will scratch minerals that have a lower number on the scale.
A diamond cannot be scratched by sandpaper. Sandpaper grit has a hardness of 7 to 9 on the Mohs scale, making it softer than a diamond. Many people use sandpaper to determine whether a diamond is genuine or not.
The plastic bristles in a tooth brush themselves cannot scratch metal.
Diamonds are exceptionally delicate, and thus, they require the utmost care. Harsh chemicals like acetone, chlorine, bleach and other abrasive substances like baking powder and toothpaste will damage your diamond beyond repair.
Most minerals are ranked 9 or below on the Mohs scale of hardness, however, diamonds are ranked 10, making them the hardest gemstone on earth. So, scratching them by accident is possible, but it is uncommon.
Diamond scratches are the result of a bit of rough-and-tumble the polished diamond has endured on its journey to your 'maybe' pile.
Can lab grown diamonds get scratched? Lab grown diamonds are just as hard and scratch resistant as mined diamonds and are cut with the same precision mined diamonds are.
It will be very hard to make a razor out of diamond. The best that is done in current industrial applications is to give razors a diamond edge.
Two other quick and simple ways to spot a real diamond is by looking at how it sparkles in light and how much you can see through it. A real diamond appears gray and white inside (brilliance) when held to the light and can reflect rainbow colors (fire) onto other surfaces.
Get a glass full of water and simply drop your diamond into the glass. If the diamond is real, it will drop to the bottom of the glass due to the high density of the stone. If it's a fake, it will float on the surface of the water.
Genuine diamonds do not sparkle in rainbow colors inside of the stone. Instead, the inside of real diamonds sparkles in tones white and gray. The play on light in the diamond is brilliance. One factor that determines a diamond's level of brilliance is the cut.
Use a sandpaper against the 'gem': Diamonds, the world's hardest stones, cannot be scratched by the rough surface of the sandpaper. The most common “fake” diamond is cubic zirconia and if you scratched it with sandpaper, it would scratch up just like any other material that is not a diamond.
Painite. The most valuable gem that is not a diamond is one that many have never heard of. Painite is an interesting brick-coloured gemstone. It is the most valuable non-diamond gem priced at £41,000-£49,000 ($50,000-$60,000 US) per carat.
As straightforward as it sounds, fill a glass of water at home to roughly three-quarters full. Separate the stone so that it is loose, and drop it into the water. Diamonds are highly dense and a genuine gem will sink to the bottom – every time. If it hovers to the surface or only partially sinks, then it is a replica.
To answer the question posed, no, it is not easy to shatter a diamond. But they are breakable if you try hard enough. In fact, despite the enormous evidence of how tough diamonds are, they can still be incredibly fragile. Hitting a diamond at the right spot and the correct angle could cause it to chip.