Ruby Vs Diamond Hardness

The higher the number the harder the mineral.

Ruby vs diamond hardness.

However this doesn t mean that the ruby is not. Because the mohs scale is a relative scale the difference between the hardness of a diamond and that of a ruby is much greater than the difference in hardness between calcite and gypsum. It is universally used around the world as a way of distinguishing minerals. The pricing of diamonds can range anywhere from 1 000 to 40 000 per carat depending on clarity cut and color.

Diamonds are the hardest gemstones and rubies are the second hardest ones. Diamonds have steadily increased in value and show no signs of slowing. The mohs scale is a not a linear scale. Instead it ranks gems on a relative scale based on their scratch hardness so although corundum ruby or sapphire is a 9 a diamond at 10 is many times harder.

As an example diamond 10 is about 4 5 times harder than corundum 9 which is about 2 times harder than topaz 8. Only a diamond can scratch a diamond. The mohs hardness scale starts with talc at 1 being the softest mineral and ending with diamond at 10 being the hardest mineral. Diamond ranks a 10 on the mohs scale of hardness whereas ruby is a 9.

Sapphire ruby and pure corundum are α alumina the most stable form of al 2 o 3 in which 3 electrons leave each aluminium ion to. However there s an old saying among gemologists. Hardness indicates how resistant a gemstone is to scratches. And as many people know diamond is the hardest gemstone.

If you hit a diamond with a hammer it ll shatter into a dozen pieces. Created in 1812 by german geologist and mineralogist friedrich mohs it is one of several definitions of hardness in materials science some of which are more quantitative. On the mohs scale of hardness the diamond ranks a 10 while the ruby ranks 9. Everyday hazards such as this make gemstone hardness an important consideration when designing and wearing jewelry.

Which gem is better in terms of hardness between ruby vs diamond is a clear answer in this category. You may know that diamond with a hardness of 10 is the hardest material in the gem world. Rubies have a hardness of 9 0 on the mohs scale of mineral hardness among the natural gems only moissanite and diamond are harder with diamond having a mohs hardness of 10 0 and moissanite falling somewhere in between corundum ruby and diamond in hardness. Ruby is among the second hardest gemstones.