Mohs Hardness of Gemstones When you are purchasing a gem for
jewelry use one of the important considerations is the
durability of that specific gemstone. One of the main measures
of durability in gems is the "Mohs hardness" which is a scale
developed by Freidrich Mohs in 1812. In general terms a gem of 7
or greater hardness is considered suitable for ring wear because
it is as hard or harder than quartz which is one of the most
common forms of "dust" that the gem might encounter. Thus if the
gemstone is as hard or harder than quartz it is unlikely to
scratch easily with common dust rubbing against it. For
engagement rings a hardness of 8 or greater is usually
recommended for added durability since the gem will likely be
worn daily.Softer gems are often put in pendants where they run
less risk of bumping into something and becoming damaged. Some
designers also put them in rings, taking extra care in the
design to protect the gem as much as possible and also
cautioning their customers about care in wearing thei