Rings, and especially wedding rings, take on a lot of daily wear, so choosing a strong gemstone is crucial. We work with diamonds, moissanites and sapphires in our mokume rings, as these stones are the strongest and most beautiful. We’ve put together this guide for you to help you understand how gemstones rank in hardness. Softer stones can be great for other jewelry like earrings and necklaces, or even special occasion rings that won’t be worn day to day.
What is the Mohs Hardness Scale for Gemstones?
When selecting the perfect gemstone for your jewelry, especially in rings, it can be helpful to consult the Mohs Hardness Scale. This fundamental scale, developed in 1812 by Friedrich Mohs, provides a comparative measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching. The Mohs Scale characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of harder materials to scratch softer ones. It serves as a guideline for determining the durability and maintenance needs of gemstones, which can be key information when choosing stones for jewelry that will be worn daily like wedding and engagement rings. Friedrich Mohs, a German mineralogist, introduced the scale to provide a straightforward method of comparing mineral hardness. Although modern tools and methods can measure hardness more precisely, the Mohs scale remains a popular reference for its simplicity and ease of use.
The scale is composed of 10 reference minerals, each representing a specific level of hardness:
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Talc
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Gypsum
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Calcite
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Fluorite
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Apatite
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Orthoclase Feldspar
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Quartz
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Topaz
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Corundum (Sapphire)
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Diamond
Each mineral can scratch those below it on the scale. For example, a quartz gemstone, rated at 7, can scratch anything with a hardness of 6 or below but will be scratched by topaz, corundum, and diamond.
For rings, especially wedding bands that are worn consistently, selecting a gemstone with a higher Mohs rating ensures longevity and resistance to everyday wear and tear. Diamonds and Sapphires (Corundum) are very strong stones, their popularity for wedding jewelry can be attributed to how well they wear, as well as their beauty.
The Strongest Stones
Diamonds, rated at 10 on the Mohs scale, are renowned for their unparalleled hardness and brilliance, and have been a top choice for wedding and engagement rings for many years. Their ability to resist scratches ensures that they maintain their sparkle and shape throughout a lifetime. Due to their incredible physical qualities, Diamonds have also been revered by a multitude of cultures throughout history, from being symbols of status to even being believed to possess special properties. Diamonds were often linked with gold, possibly due to the joint occurrence of diamonds with quartzite, quartz veins and an occasional occurrence of gold in them.
Their incredible ability to catch and refract light, creating that characteristic sparkle has always been captivating. They have come to be seen as symbols of strength, purity and endurance. They are also the April birthstone, and symbolize a sixty year anniversary.
Corundum minerals, which include sapphires and rubies, rate at 9 on the Mohs scale. These stones are excellent choices for rings due to their toughness and vibrant colors. Sapphires are available in a wide range of hues, from classic blue to pink and yellow, offering versatile options for personalizing jewelry. We also particularly love pairing sapphires with mokume gane, a stone in a complimentary color can be perfectly suited to the beautiful mix of metal colors and patterns that characterize our mokume rings. Traditionally sapphires symbolize nobility, truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. They have often been associated with spirituality and connection to the celestial. Sapphire is the birthstone for September, and symbolizes 45th wedding anniversaries.
Another lesser known but amazing option for wedding jewelry is the moissanite. It rates at roughly a 9.5 on the Mohs scale. It was originally discovered by Henri Moissan while examining samples from a meteor crater in Arizona in 1893. Most moissanite available today is lab grown, as it is made of an incredibly rare naturally occuring material, whose origins have been traced to meteorites. Moissanites have a beautiful sparkling quality, evoking the material’s origins of outer space. They are often visually indistinguishable from diamonds, but being lab grown, are sourced sustainably and are a much more affordable option.
Understanding the Mohs Hardness Scale is invaluable for anyone involved in jewelry design or purchasing. By considering the hardness of gemstones, you can select stones that not only complement your aesthetic preferences but also suit your lifestyle and durability needs. Our mokume gane rings are made at heirloom quality, crafted with care and skill to ensure they last you this lifetime and beyond. Choosing stones that will stand the test of time like mokume gane itself will help you create jewelry that is not only stunning but also built to last, ensuring that your pieces remain cherished for years to come. If you’d like to start your design journey with us, contact us here!