Subscribe Feed (RSS)Can mined diamonds be scratched or chipped? If so, what conditions would cause this to happen?
August 19th, 2008 by admin | Filed under Earth Sciences & Geology.
Jim O asked:
I bought a synthetic lab-generated diamond from a very reputiable company (at least I thought). When I recieved the stone it looked perfect and great. I was told it had a hardness of 9.2 and had almost all the other characteristicts of a true mined diamond. After about 2 weeks under normal everyday conditions the “synthetic” diamond was scratched. I called the company and asked them about this, and they replied by saying even mined diamonds can be scratched. Is this true? I thought a diamond could only be scratched by another diamond.
I bought a synthetic lab-generated diamond from a very reputiable company (at least I thought). When I recieved the stone it looked perfect and great. I was told it had a hardness of 9.2 and had almost all the other characteristicts of a true mined diamond. After about 2 weeks under normal everyday conditions the “synthetic” diamond was scratched. I called the company and asked them about this, and they replied by saying even mined diamonds can be scratched. Is this true? I thought a diamond could only be scratched by another diamond.
Tags: Diamonds, Synthetic Diamond
real diamonds are hardness 10 and cannot be scratched by any other material.
however, they can be damaged, e.g. crushed, chipped, gouged by some large object such as a hammer or chisel because while they are ‘hard’, they are also ‘brittle’
i can’t imagine any everyday conditions that would scratch a diamond
Rowdy is right, they are hard but brittle. Which is why, despite their hardness, they can still be faceted.
But scratched from everyday use (I am assuming its jewelry)? Sounds like you’ve been hoodwinked.
a diamond has the highest rated hardness of 10 in a scale of 1–10, so if your synthetic diamond( H=9.2) accidentally rubbed or scrached against someting higher on hardness scale it can be scrached, in normal working surruondings where you dont work with such substances(hardness more than 9.2), the possibility is remote, so you better ask a few more questions of your suppliers & if not satisfied ask your money back ,failing which contact a consumer forum to look into the matter.hope this helps
If it was only 9.2, it’s not a “real” diamond.
There are quite a few companies out there that make cheap synthetic imitation diamonds, from a number of materials, Most notably cubic zirconium oxide, and silicon carbide.
Some companies try to confuse potential customers by subtly advertising them as being *identical* to real diamonds; they are not. (If they are the same as diamonds, why do they cost far less?)
Chances are, your simulated diamond was, in fact gem quality synthetic silicon carbide. Silicon carbide is also known a “moissanite,” it has the chemical formula of SiC
SiC is commonly used as an abrasive in sandpaper. thus, you could scratch your gem with SiC sandpaper….
In general, “real” diamonds can be “scratched” only by other diamonds, as well as a few other exotic materials.
However, due to their extreme hardness, diamonds are also extremely brittle. They can chip or shatter just by dropping them on a hard surface. Diamonds can be broken with a simple cold chisel. This is true of most other very hard minerals, but particularly so of diamonds.
Hope that makes sense,
~WOMBAT
If the hardness was stated as 9.2 the stone was NOT a diamond. Lab created true diamonds are available and these have exactly the same physical properties as mined diamonds with a hardness of 10. Yes diamond can be scratched but only by another diamond and even then with great difficulty and only along certain directions relating to the original crystal.They will not be scratched by any substance you will come across in normal life however, diamond is quite brittle and it is possible to chip the delicate edges of facets if it is treated roughly. I regret to say that your “reputable” supplier was just another scam merchant who has taken you for a ride. I apologize for the rubbish, crooked traders that now infest what is, in the main, a respected, honest business.,
Natural diamonds can only be scratched by diamonds basically (and a few special developed diamond-related abrasive products).
Chipped they can be by putting extreme pressure on a point, preferably with some interior stress or weakness, especially at the tips of marquises and pears.
Diamonds are not so tough (like jade is very tough), they are hard which stands for scratch resisting per definition. Most scratches on diamonds come from the polishing process where diamond powder is left on the polishing wheel.
Normal use does not scartch diamonds ! The diamonds in my ma’s ring she wore daily for 45 years are unscratched !
But, hardness 10 is for all diamonds, so a diamond with 9.2 hardness seems impossble to me. Then it is not a diamond ! If they promote the product as synthetic diamonds, and they are not, then they for sure break some laws as it is not in accordance to the FTC rules !
OK Jim-O Now that you have learned the truth from the best of the best , Well educated professionals who are telling you fact the way it really is . I would print up this valuable info and show your so called reputable jeweller.Then tell him he needs to make it right with you . stop false advertising, and talk a lesson from the big boys who know what they are talking about. If he cant accept some constructive reality of the truth and still gives you a hard time .or refuses to Honor the integrity of those who work as true professionals in the business . then report him to the FTC to protect those who are honest reputable jewellers. Hopefully he will learn his lesson the first time. There will be no excuse for ignorance a second time . Best regards