Gemstone Hardness & Wearability

Gemstones vary in how they hold up to daily life. The guidelines below are based on the Mohs hardness scale and how minerals hold up to scratching. For jewelry, hardness matters, but so do setting, stone shape, and how the piece is cared for.

 

Stones Recommended for Everyday Wear

Best suited for daily wear, including engagement rings:

Hardness – Mineral

10 – Diamond
9.5 – Moissanite
9 – Sapphire, Ruby
8.5 – Alexandrite
8 – Topaz, Spinel

 

Stones Recommended for Regular Wear

Well suited for frequent wear with reasonable care. These can work for engagement rings, but we often recommend more protective settings.

7.5–8 – Aquamarine, Emerald, Morganite
7 – Garnet, Amethyst, Citrine, Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz, Clear Quartz, Iolite, Chalcedony

 

Stones to Wear With Extra Care

Best for occasional wear or designs with significant stone protection. Generally not recommended for engagement rings.

6 – Pyrite, Moonstone, Peridot
5 – Hematite, Opal
4.5–2.5 – Pearl

 

A few important notes

Hardness measures resistance to scratching, not chipping or breaking - some harder stones can still be fragile and break.

Bezel and semi-bezel settings offer more protection than exposed prongs, especially for softer or brittle stones.

Remove jewelry for workouts, cleaning, and manual work. Store pieces separately to avoid scratching.

Check out a detailed Mohs Hardness Scale here.