Can a Diamond Break or Scratch?

Short answer: A diamond does not scratch, but it is not unbreakable. It is the hardest known natural material (Mohs 10), so almost nothing in daily life can scratch it. But hardness and resistance to knocks are not the same thing: a hard knock, especially on the stone’s thin edge or its points, can chip or break a diamond. With the right setting and a few simple habits, this risk becomes very small.

The difference between hardness and toughness

• Hardness: a material’s resistance to scratching. Diamond is the hardest; only another diamond can scratch it.
• Toughness: resistance to knocks and breaking. A diamond’s crystal has weaker planes in certain directions; a hard knock in those directions can split the stone.

So a diamond is not affected by rubbing against a key, but striking a marble worktop hard at an angle can, though rarely, cause a chip.

A diamond’s sensitive points

The girdle (edge)

The widest outline of the stone is called the girdle. A girdle cut very thin is more sensitive to knocks. Reports state the girdle thickness; an extremely thin girdle should be avoided.

Points

The ends and corners of shapes such as marquise, pear and princess are the most sensitive points. These ends should be protected by “V”-shaped prongs. Marquise · princess · pear.

Inclusions close to the surface

Crack-like inclusions (feathers) close to the stone’s surface can weaken it at that point. So clarity sometimes matters not only for looks but for durability too. The clarity scale.

Settings that protect the stone

Solitaire settings.

Protection in everyday wear

• Take your ring off for heavy work, sport, gardening and carrying things.
• Be careful not to knock it against hard surfaces such as doors, worktops and metal railings.
• Have the prongs checked once a year; a loose prong can let the stone fall out or leave it exposed to knocks.
• If you notice a chip in the stone, show the ring to a jeweller; small chips can often be removed by re-polishing the stone.

Can you shower with a diamond ring? · how to clean a diamond.

Is a lab-grown diamond just as durable?

Yes. A lab-grown diamond has the same crystal structure and hardness as a natural diamond; it does not scratch in the same way and is sensitive to knocks at the same points. Caring for it and protecting it are the same. What is a lab-grown diamond?

Frequently asked questions