Durability is one of the most important things to keep in mind while shopping for fine jewellery, especially engagement rings. Durability is not just to the stone type you choose, but it also considers how you use and take care of it.
Gemstone durability.
Hardness, toughness and stability are the factors of durability. These factors let us understand the account of gemstones wear, heat, light, chemicals and variation in humidity. The Hardness shows how well a stone will resist scratches and abrasions.
Mohs Hardness scale
The hardness of a stone is measured on the basis of Mohs Hardness Scale. This scale rates the resistance of various minerals. The value is based between 1 - 10, where 1 is the softest and 10 the hardest.
Mohs Hardness Scale is not linear as the levels of hardness may vary between the assigned values. For example, a diamond is actually about four times harder than a sapphire, but sapphire is only twice as hard as topaz.
Choosing the best stone for engagement rings.
Gemstones rated 7 or higher are considered most suitable for rings as the divide between soft and hard lies around 7 in Mohs rating. Stones with ratings more than 8 or higher such as diamond, Moissanite and sapphire are ideal for engagement rings.
Diamonds are the hardest known material on earth making them much more durable than any other gemstone. Despite its extreme hardness, one should keep in mind that it is still possible to chip or break a diamond.
Sapphire and Moissanite are also highly recommended as they have Mohs 9.25 for Moissanite and 9 for sapphire which is suitable for long-term everyday use.
To know about how to maintain and clean Engagement ring, Read our previous blog at https://www.swadiamonds.com/blog/details/17
