· What is the MOH's Hardness Scale?
· About Emeralds
· About Rubies
· About Sapphires

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: What is the MOH’s Hardness Scale? Back to Questions

A:  The MOHs’ Scale measures a stones resistance to scratching.  The harder the stone, the more resistant it is to scratching.  The scale ranks from softest (talc, ranked 1) to hardest (diamond, the only mineral ranked 10). Precious stones are more resisitant to scratching than semi precious stones.

1- Talc

2 - 2.5- Amber, Finger nail

2.5 - 3- Silver, Pearl, Copper, Gold, Celestite

3 - 3.5- Coral

4.5 - 5- Platinum

5 - 5.5- Lapis Lazuli, Obsidian, Window Glass

5.5 - 6- Opal, Touquoise

6.5 - 7.5- Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Citrine, Garnet, Peridot, Tanzanite

7 - 7.5- Tourmaline

7.5 - 8- Topaz, Spinel

8.5 - 9- Alexandrite, Cubic Zirconia,Chrysoberyl

9 - 9.5- Sapphire, Ruby

10- Diamond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emerald Back to Questions

Composition: The most valuable form of beryl.
Color: Deep green to bluish green coming from chromium.
Mined: South America, Zambia and Afghanistan.
Mohs’ Hardness: 7.5 to 8, but sometimes brittle.
Meaning: Happiness, hope, love and success. Emeralds were believed to sharpen wits, bring wealth, and cure all types of evil and illness.
Birthstone: May
Detail: Emerald is one of the most valuable gems because of its extreme rarity and brilliant green color. Almost all natural emeralds contain inclusions or small deposits of iron.  Experts consider the inclusions proof that the gems are natural and not lab-created. Emeralds can be brittle due to these inclusions, so it is important to protect them from rough treatment when you wear them. Ultrasonic cleaners, which use vibrations to remove dirt, can damage heavily included emeralds. Natural emeralds also tend to have thin surface scratches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruby Back to Questions

Composition: Red corundum (aluminum oxide), the same family as sapphire.
Color: Various shades of red coming from chromium.
Mined: Myanmar (formerly Burma), South East Asia, Africa and several states in the U.S.
Mohs’ Hardness: 9.
Meaning: Fidelity, contentment and calmness.  Its color was thought to come from an undying flame, inside the stone.  Some believed it offered its owner the protection of living safely among enemies.  Rubies are have become a symbol of love and passion.
Birthstone: July
Detail: Corundum, the main ingredient of ruby, is the second-hardest material known after diamond. Only red stones are called rubies. If the color is too light, the gem is called a pink sapphire. Burmese rubies are the most beautiful and expensive because of their lack of iron, which can darken and cloud a gem's appearance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sapphire Back to Questions

Composition: Corundum (aluminum oxide), the same family as ruby, in a color other than red, especially rich transparent blue.
Color: Various colors (blue, pink, green and yellow), except for red (ruby), coming from iron and titanium.
Mined: Australia, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), Thailand.
Mohs’ Hardness: 9.
Meaning: True love. Sapphire is also considered a mind-opening gem. It is supposed to clarify thought, and aid relaxation. It was said to bring truth and good health to the wearer while preventing envy and fraud.
Birthstone: September
Detail: The name "sapphire" alone refers to the gem’s blue variety. All other colors have the color name added, as in "orange sapphire" and "pink sapphire." Ancient Persians believed the earth was a giant sapphire because of the deep blue color of the sky. Sapphire often has some inclusions, but its clarity is still good. Its base material, corundum, is second only to diamonds in hardness.