Gemstone Durability: Hardness, Toughness, Stability
Gemstone durability is a combination of hardness, toughness, and stability.
Mohs Hardness Scale Explained: All 10 Minerals, Ranked
The Mohs hardness scale is a 1-to-10 ranking of a mineral's resistance to scratching, created in 1812 by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs.
Gemstone Guides
Birthstones by Month: The Complete Guide to All 12 Stones
Each month has at least one birthstone: garnet (January), amethyst (February), aquamarine (March), diamond (April), emerald (May), pearl or alexandrite…
Gemstone GuidesEmerald Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Wear and Care
Emerald measures 7.5–8 on the Mohs hardness scale, but that number describes scratch resistance, not protection against a knock.
Essays
Gemstone Treatments: Heat, Fillers, Dye, and More
Gemstone treatments alter color, clarity, or durability after a stone forms.
How to Clean Gemstone Jewelry Safely, Stone by Stone
For most gemstone jewelry, soak the piece in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap for 5–10 minutes, brush gently behind the stone with a soft…
How to Identify Gemstones: 7 Tests You Can Do at Home
Identify a gemstone by testing its physical properties and eliminating candidates: examine it under a 10x loupe for bubbles or natural inclusions,…