# Stones for an everyday ring (and which are fragile)

> Mohs hardness, brittleness and water: which stones stand up to everyday wear in a ring, which scratch or break and which must stay out of the ultrasonic.

- Source: https://www.711grados.com/en/gemstones-for-everyday-wear/
- Language: en
- Note: This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.
- Published: 2026-05-20
- Updated: 2026-05-20
- Translation (es): https://www.711grados.com/es/piedras-para-uso-diario/
- Author: Sandra Sánchez
- Site: 711 Grados (https://www.711grados.com/)

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A ring bumps into doors, tables and keyboards. To choose well, look at three things: **hardness** (resistance to scratching), **toughness** (resistance to breaking) and **stability** against water, heat and products.

## Mohs hardness

The Mohs scale runs from 1 to 10 and measures scratch resistance. Common dust contains quartz (hardness 7), so stones below 7 get scratched in everyday wear.

| Stone | Approximate Mohs hardness | For everyday wear |
| --- | ---: | --- |
| Diamond | 10 | Excellent |
| Sapphire and ruby | 9 | Excellent |
| Moissanite | 9.25 | Excellent |
| Spinel | 8 | Very good |
| Topaz | 8 | Good; can break with a knock |
| Aquamarine and emerald | 7.5 to 8 | Emerald: delicate, has inclusions |
| Quartz, amethyst and citrine | 7 | Good |
| Garnet | 6.5 to 7.5 | Good |
| Peridot | 6.5 to 7 | With care |
| Opal | 5.5 to 6.5 | Fragile |
| Turquoise | 5 to 6 | Scratches and absorbs liquids |
| Pearls | 2.5 to 4.5 | Better in earrings or pendants |
| Amber | 2 to 2.5 | Better in pendants |

## Stones that scratch easily

Opal, turquoise, pearls, amber, coral, lapis lazuli and malachite. They are better in earrings and pendants, which take fewer knocks.

## Fragile stones

**Emerald** often has inclusions and fissures; **opal** can crack with sudden temperature changes; **topaz** and **kunzite** have cleavage directions that give way under a blow.

## Which stones tolerate water

Diamond, sapphire, ruby and quartz do well. Keep pearls, opal, turquoise, coral and amber away from water, soaps, perfumes and chlorine. See [jewelry in the shower, pool and sea](https://www.711grados.com/en/wearing-jewelry-in-shower-pool-and-sea/).

## Which stones must not go in the ultrasonic

Emeralds (often oil-filled), opals, pearls, turquoise, coral, amber and any treated stone. See [ultrasonic cleaners](https://www.711grados.com/en/ultrasonic-jewelry-cleaner-when-to-use/).

## For an everyday ring

Sapphire, ruby, diamond, moissanite or spinel, with a setting that protects the stone, such as a [bezel](https://www.711grados.com/en/bezel-setting/).

See also: [gemstones](https://www.711grados.com/en/gemstones-in-jewelry/) and [cleaning jewelry with stones](https://www.711grados.com/en/how-to-clean-gemstone-jewelry/).