Beading How-To's
printer friendly versionMohs Scale of Hardness
The Mohs hardness scale measures the relative hardness of gemstones, as determined by their scratch hardness (the resistance of a mineral when scratched with a pointed testing object.)
The diamond is the hardest natural gemstone in the world and measures a ten on the hardness scale. Gemstones measured at a one can be easily scratched with a fingernail. To learn the hardness of many popular gemstone materials, see the chart below.
Scale | Hardness | Material |
1 | Can be scratched easily with a fingernail | Sulfur: 1 - 1-1/2 |
2 | Can be scratched with fingernail | Amber: 2 - 3
Ivory: 2 - 4 |
3 | Can be scratched with coin | Pearl: 3 - 4
Coral: 3 - 4 Malachite: 3-1/2 - 4 |
4 | Can be scratched easily with a knife; cannot scratch glass | Rhodochrosite: 4 |
5 | Can be scratched with a knife; can just scratch glass | Lapis Lazuli: 5 - 6
Turquoise: 5 - 6 Opal: 5-1/2 - 6-1/2 |
6 | Can be scratched with a steel file; easily scratches window/bottle glass | Moonstone: 6 - 6 1/2
Tanzanite: 6-1/2 - 7 Peridot: 6-1/2 - 7 Zircon: 6-1/2 - 7-1/2 |
7 | Easily scratches metal, glass and softer stones | Quartz, Citrine, and Amethyst: 7
Tourmaline: 7 - 7-1/2 Garnet: 7 - 7-1/2 Emerald: 7-1/2 - 8 |
8 | Scratches quartz and softer stones | Topaz: 8
Alexandrite: 8-1/2 |
9 | Scratches topaz and softer stones | Ruby: 9
Sapphire: 9 |
10 | Scratches ruby | Diamond: 10 |
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