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.
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.
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.
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.
The short answer is yes. Diamonds, like other gems, can be scratched. However, diamonds can't be scratched as easily as other gemstones.
The oils, lotions and soaps you use everyday can leave traces that accumulate over time and create a filmy layer over the stones, making them lose their sparkle.
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.
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.
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. A mineral like talc, on the other hand, is a 1 on the scale.
A piece of diamond jewelry is surely a prized possession, and you wouldn't want your jewel to look dull or lose its sparkle, right? While you can wear diamonds every day, a little care will keep them shine forever.
But the water itself is the main issue… Salt water can make your diamond look cloudy and the chlorine and chemicals in swimming pools and hot tubs can damage the metal of the ring itself, so always remember to take off your engagement ring.
They do NOT dull or stop sparkling, they just get dirty. Diamonds are magnets for all kinds of materials which will stick to them and make them lose their sparkle. Finger prints are a prime example. The oils on your fingers can stick to the diamond and make it lose some of its brilliance.
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.
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 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.
This water test is easy if you have a loose diamond: Get a glass and fill it with water (it doesn't matter what type of water you use). Drop the diamond into the glass of water. Due to the high density of diamonds, when dropped into the water a real diamond will sink.
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. In fact, each one comes with a laser inscription and lab report.
Cubic zirconia is an 8.5 on the hardness scale. It doesn't seem like a huge difference, but it is. Cubic zirconia scratches easily from daily use-even household dust can scratch the stones.
The Fog Test
Diamonds are made completely of carbon, an organic material. They conduct heat so if you blow on a diamond the foggy surface will dissipate immediately. If you blow on a stone and the foggy surface sticks around, then the stone isn't a real diamond.
A diamond that has not been cleaned for a while can look milky due to a buildup of film and dirt on its facets. Cloudy diamonds can also have diminished transparency from inclusions or other characteristics intrinsic to the crystal from which they are cut.
Refraction creates a sparkle in a diamond as a result of light bouncing around the inside, which hits your eye when the stone is in motion. The brightness, or brilliance, of light that exits through the top of a diamond is a result of both reflection and refraction.
Even a moderate amount of dirt, grime or otherwise unpleasant sediment and “film” can have a severe effect on the sheen and shine of that precious stone in your precious ring. And over time, things like hand lotions, powders, soap, hairspray and more can really build up on and dull your diamond's glitter and glimmer.