How do we know which is the hardest birthstone and the softest birthstone? The good newsis that we don't have to make a bicycle here because it has already been made. Friedrich Mohs, a German mineralogist, made a scale of mineral hardness in 1822.
Today, it is just called the "Mohs scale." He made his method based on the idea that a harder mineral can scratch a softer one, but not the other way around. The score for the hardest mineral is 10, and the score for the softest mineral is very close to 0.
Another requirement for our lists is that the gem has to be on one of the birthstone lists, either the main one, the alternative one or even the zodiac birthstone lists.
The Hardest Birthstone - Diamond
The diamondis the birthstone with the highest level of hardness. Diamondshave the distinction of being the hardest substance found on earth, in addition to being one of the most expensive.
Diamonds can be found in a variety of luxury items, including jewelry, watches, and other accessories. They are extracted from a location known as a kimberlite pipe that is located very deep underground.
Diamond is the natural material that has the highest rating for hardness. On the other hand, it is quite brittle. Nothing else is taken into account when determining a material's hardness other than its ability to withstand being scratched. When determining a gemstone's overall wearability grade, the hardness of the stone is taken into consideration.
The Softest Birthstone - Pearl
Pearls are most likely the gentlest birthstonesfound anywhere in the world. Calcium carbonate is a mineral that is layered to create pearls. Calcium carbonate is also a mineral that is used to make chalk and limestone.
After that, the layers are covered in a layer of organic material such as oyster shells or a mixture of shells with other substances such as copper or iron.
Pearls are produced when an irritant is allowed to enter the shell of an oyster, which causes the oyster to create a protective layer around itself. This results in the formation of a pearl.
This layer can be any color, but it most commonly appears white because the oyster's natural color is white. The color of this layer depends on the oyster.
People Also Ask
What Is The Weakest Birthstone?
The talc (1), gypsum (2), calcite (3), and fluorite (4) are the stones with the softest consistency (4). The Mohs rating of 7 is considered to be the dividing line between harder and softer gems.
According to this theory, only gems with a hardness of 7 or higher are appropriate for use in rings, while gems with a rating of 7 or lower are not.
Is Jade Stronger Than Diamond?
Jade, on the other hand, receives an "Exceptional" rating and is therefore thought to be more difficult than diamond, despite the fact that diamond is more difficult than jade (Toughness Vs. Hardness).
Is there anything stronger than diamond?
Despite the fact that jade has a Mohs scale rating of 6-7, On the Mohs scale, the diamond scores a 10.
Can You Break A Diamond With A Hammer?
There may not be many naturally-occurring materials that are stronger than diamonds, but some metals made by humans, like tungsten and steel, are stronger. That means a diamond can be broken by a direct hit from a regular hammer.
Final Words
The hardest natural thing on earth is the diamond. It is one of the world's most expensive and sought-after gems. On the other hand, a pearl is not as hard as a diamond, but it has still been highly valued throughout history.