There is nothing that can scratch a diamond except another diamond. A mineral like talc, on the other hand, is a 1 on the scale. You could scratch it with any hard material, even your fingernail.
However, the diamond is the hardest stone on earth and you can rest assured that it is strong enough to resist any scratches from daily activity. A diamond is more likely to chip before it will scratch, and chipping is extremely improbable.
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.
Metal, including gold and silver, cannot be scratched with a diamond, but a diamond may be scratched with metal. On the Mohs scale, most metals are rated at or below a 5. Only a few metals are sufficiently tough to scuff a diamond.
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. However, and this unfortunately is a common misconception, this does not mean that diamonds are immune to damage.
A used toothbrush is likely to have frayed bristles that could scratch the stone or metal, and will not be sufficient at buffing off the dirt. Cotton or microfiber cloth - Unless you plan on letting your ring air dry, you'll need a lint-free cloth.
Diamonds are ranked a 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness; all other minerals are ranked 9 or below. Anything with a hardness below that of a diamond cannot scratch a diamond. That means only a diamond can scratch a diamond.
Moissanite: The Second Hardest Mineral in Nature after Diamond. The colors seen in moissanite from the Mount Carmel area of northern Israel range from dark blue to light green. photo by Aurélien Delaunay. Moissanite is the name given to naturally occurring silicon carbide and to its various crystalline polymorphs.
You see, diamonds are a magnet for grease/oil as their surfaces muck up easily. A dirty stone doesn't sparkle because light simply can't enter the diamond and causes it to appear dull.
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.
Will frequent handwashing damage my diamond ring? Handwashing with a gentle cleanser won't really damage your ring, but the soaps can build up and dull the shine.
A: No, washing with soap and water will not damage your engagement ring or other diamond jewelry. We do recommend to keep build-up and smudges from your jewelry at bay, that you remove rings, bracelets, earrings & necklaces before applying lotions, oils, makeup, and perfumes!
Using toothpaste on your jewelry could cause scratches or pitting in the metal. While toothpaste usually won't damage the diamond itself, it could damage other stones in your ring or even the setting itself. Damage to the metal in the setting could loosen the precious stones, causing further damage to the ring.
Is it possible to scratch a diamond using sandpaper? 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 Mohs scale is a scientific measurement of mineral hardness. Glass is rated a 5.5, and diamonds, the hardest mineral, are a 10. So, genuine diamonds will scratch a mirror. On the other hand, so will quartz (7), moissanite (9.25), and cubic zirconia (8).
A sparkle test is quick and easy to do since all you need are your eyes. Simply hold your diamond under a normal lamp and observe the bright shimmers of light bouncing off the diamond. A real diamond provides an exceptional sparkle since it reflects white light extremely well.
However, the best way to spot a fake diamond is to take it to a jeweler for thermal and electrical conductivity tests. This requires an expensive machine, but it can tell the difference between diamond and moissanite.
To determine if your diamond is real, hold a magnifying glass up and look at the diamond through the glass. Look for imperfections within the stone. If you're unable to find any, then the diamond is most likely fake. the majority of real diamonds have imperfections referred to as inclusions.
Moissanite has unparalleled sparkle! It has a higher refractive index than diamond, resulting in greater brilliance than diamond. Moissanite also has greater dispersion (fire) than a diamond, so you will notice more rainbow flashes of light.
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.
In close quarters, accidents can happen, and scratches can result. They can also come about from diamonds rolling around with each other inside jewelry boxes, or from careless jewellers not storing diamonds in the correct manner.