Gems by Hardness (Mohs Scale)

Explore gemstones organized by their hardness on the Mohs scale

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness measures resistance to scratching, ranging from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).

Extremely Hard (10)

Gem Type Mohs Hardness Investment Ranking Tier
Diamond 10 Unknown
Black Diamond 10 Unknown
Pink Diamond 10 Unknown
Yellow Diamond 10 Unknown
Brown Diamond 10 Unknown
Green Diamond 10 Unknown
Blue Diamond 10 Unknown

Very Hard (8.5-9.99)

Gem Type Mohs Hardness Investment Ranking Tier
Ruby 9 Unknown
Sapphire 9 Unknown
Padparadscha Sapphire 9 Unknown
Star Sapphire 9 Unknown
Star Ruby 9 Unknown
Synthetic Sapphire 9 Unknown
Synthetic Ruby 9 Unknown
Synthetic Emerald 9 Unknown
Alexandrite 8.5 Unknown
Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl 8.5 Unknown
Chrysoberyl 8.5 Unknown

Hard-2 (8.0-8.49)

Gem Type Mohs Hardness Investment Ranking Tier
Musgravite 8-8.5 Unknown
Taaffeite 8-8.5 Unknown
Emerald 8 Unknown
Painite 8 Unknown
Red Spinel 8 Unknown
Blue Spinel 8 Unknown
Imperial Topaz 8 Unknown
Pink Spinel 8 Unknown
Pink Topaz 8 Unknown
Aquamarine 8 Unknown
Morganite 8 Unknown
Heliodor 8 Unknown
Goshenite 8 Unknown
Green Beryl 8 Unknown
Burmese Spinel 8 Unknown
Tanzanian Spinel 8 Unknown
Vietnamese Purple Spinel 8 Unknown
Topaz 8 Unknown
Spinel 8 Unknown
Mahenge Spinel 8 Unknown
Pezzottaite 8 Unknown
Blue Topaz 8 Unknown
Opaque Emerald 8 Unknown
Beryl 8 Unknown

Hard-1 (7.5-7.99)

Gem Type Mohs Hardness Investment Ranking Tier
Bixbite 7.5–8 Unknown
Phenakite 7.5-8 Unknown
Grandidierite 7.5 Unknown
Andalusite 7.5 Unknown
Euclase 7.5 Unknown
Sapphirine 7.5 Unknown
Hambergite 7.5 Unknown

Medium-2 (7.0-7.49)

Gem Type Mohs Hardness Investment Ranking Tier
Paraiba Tourmaline 7-7.5 Unknown
Tsavorite 7-7.5 Unknown
Rubellite 7-7.5 Unknown
Indicolite 7-7.5 Unknown
Watermelon Tourmaline 7-7.5 Unknown
Rhodolite 7-7.5 Unknown
Almandine 7-7.5 Unknown
Pyrope 7-7.5 Unknown
Spessartite 7-7.5 Unknown
Grossular 7-7.5 Unknown
Uvarovite 7-7.5 Unknown
Mali Garnet 7-7.5 Unknown
Color-Change Garnet 7-7.5 Unknown
Iolite 7-7.5 Unknown
Verdelite 7-7.5 Unknown
Tourmaline 7-7.5 Unknown
Danburite 7-7.5 Unknown
Malaya Garnet 7-7.5 Unknown
Achroite 7-7.5 Unknown
Elbaite 7-7.5 Unknown
Jeremejevite 6.5-7.5 Unknown
Andradite 6.5-7.5 Unknown
Amethyst 7 Unknown
Citrine 7 Unknown
Rose Quartz 7 Unknown
Smoky Quartz 7 Unknown
Ametrine 7 Unknown
Prasiolite 7 Unknown
Milky Quartz 7 Unknown
Rock Crystal 7 Unknown
Rutilated Quartz 7 Unknown
Tourmalinated Quartz 7 Unknown
Aventurine 7 Unknown
Tiger's Eye 7 Unknown
Hawk's Eye 7 Unknown
Chalcedony 7 Unknown
Agate 7 Unknown
Carnelian 7 Unknown
Chrysoprase 7 Unknown
Onyx 7 Unknown
Sardonyx 7 Unknown
Bloodstone 7 Unknown
Jasper 7 Unknown
Zircon 6.5-7.5 Unknown
Quartz 7 Unknown
Garnet 6.5-7.5 Unknown
Sillimanite 6.5-7.5 Unknown

Medium-1 (6-6.99)

Gem Type Mohs Hardness Investment Ranking Tier
Serendibite 6.5-7 Unknown
Demantoid 6.5-7 Unknown
Clinohumite 6.5-7 Unknown
Hiddenite 6.5-7 Unknown
Diaspore 6.5-7 Unknown
Kunzite 6.5-7 Unknown
Peridot 6.5-7 Unknown
Kornerupine 6.5-7 Unknown
Jadeite 6.5-7 Unknown
Spodumene 6.5-7 Unknown
Pollucite 6.5-7 Unknown
Axinite 6.5-7 Unknown
Tanzanite 6-7 Unknown
Cassiterite 6-7 Unknown
Vesuvianite 6.5 Unknown
Epidote 6-7 Unknown
Zoisite 6-7 Unknown
Idocrase 6.5 Unknown
Benitoite 6-6.5 Unknown
Moonstone 6-6.5 Unknown
Labradorite 6-6.5 Unknown
Sunstone 6-6.5 Unknown
Amazonite 6-6.5 Unknown
Orthoclase 6-6.5 Unknown
Andesine 6-6.5 Unknown
Oligoclase 6-6.5 Unknown
Nephrite 6-6.5 Unknown
Prehnite 6-6.5 Unknown
Tantalite 6-6.5 Unknown
Feldspar 6-6.5 Unknown
Bytownite 6-6.5 Unknown
Petalite 6-6.5 Unknown
Albite 6-6.5 Unknown
Chondrodite 6-6.5 Unknown
Black Opal 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Fire Opal 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Crystal Opal 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Boulder Opal 5.5-6.5 Unknown
White Opal 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Jelly Opal 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Hyalite 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Peruvian Opal 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Sugilite 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Rhodonite 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Opal 5.5-6.5 Unknown
Hematite 5.5-6.5 Unknown

Soft (3-5.99)

Gem Type Mohs Hardness Investment Ranking Tier
Sodalite 5.5-6 Unknown
Scapolite 5.5-6 Unknown
Diopside 5.5-6 Unknown
Hackmanite 5.5-6 Unknown
Hauyne 5.5-6 Unknown
Opaque Hauyne 5.5-6 Unknown
Amblygonite 5.5-6 Unknown
Vayrynenite 5.5 Unknown
Afghanite 5.5 Unknown
Charoite 5-6 Unknown
Lapis Lazuli 5-6 Unknown
Turquoise 5-6 Unknown
Enstatite 5-6 Unknown
Hypersthene 5-6 Unknown
Brazilianite 5.5 Unknown
Moldavite 5-6 Unknown
Triplite 5-6 Unknown
Pargasite 5-6 Unknown
Sphene 5-5.5 Unknown
Chrome Sphene 5-5.5 Unknown
Herderite 5-5.5 Unknown
Stibiotantalite 5-5.5 Unknown
Apatite 5 Unknown
Poudretteite 5 Unknown
Dioptase 5 Unknown
Larimar 4.5-5 Unknown
Scheelite 4.5-5 Unknown
Xenotime 4-5 Unknown
Parisite 4.5 Unknown
Bastnasite 4-4.5 Unknown
Smithsonite 4-4.5 Unknown
Rhodochrosite 3.5-4.5 Unknown
Fluorite 4 Unknown
Serpentine 2.5-5.5 Unknown
Sphalerite 3.5-4 Unknown
Malachite 3.5-4 Unknown
Azurite 3.5-4 Unknown
Aragonite 3.5-4 Unknown
Cuprite 3.5-4 Unknown
Cerussite 3-3.5 Unknown
Phosphophyllite 3-3.5 Unknown
Seraphinite 2-4 Unknown
Calcite 3 Unknown

Very Soft (1-2.99)

Gem Type Mohs Hardness Investment Ranking Tier
Erythrite 1.5-2.5 Unknown
Ammolite 1-3 Unknown
Lepidolite 1-3 Unknown
Kyanite 4-7 (variable) Unknown