What is the hardest birthstone and the softest birthstone?
How do we determine what is the hardest birthstone and what is the softest birthstone? The good thing we do not need to invent a bicycle here as it has already been done for us. In 1822 German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs developed a scale of mineral hardness that is simply called mohs scale nowadays. He developed his method based on the approach that harder mineral can scratch the softer one, but not the other way around. The highest mineral hardness score is 10, and the lowest one is close to zero.
Another criteria for our lists is for the gem to belong to one of the birth crystals lists be it the alternative birthstones list or the main ones, or even zodiacal birth gem lists.
So here are the top 5 hardest birthstones. Please note that hardest does not mean the toughest birthstone or unbreakable birthstone. You can still destroy even the hardest birth gem if you try
Diamond – the hardest birthstone scoring the highest 10 mark on the mohs scale
Sapphire – 9 on the mohs scale
Ruby – it is in essence a red birthstone variety of sapphire. Both ruby and sapphire are hard and durable birthstones
Alexandrite – is a variety of chrysoberyl with a mohs hardness of 8.5
Topaz – scored 8 on the mohs scale
Pearl necklace. Pearl is the softest birthstone.
Here are our top 5 softest birthstones. Can we call them delicate birthstones? Of course!
Pearl – is the softest birthstone with 2.5 on the mohs scale. You should take care of pearls and not scratch them
Amber – also has 2.5 on the mohs scale
Malachite – scored 3.5 as per the same hardness system
Azurite – shares the name of on of the most delicate birthstones together with malachite. Those two often occur together as well. Azurite is a Libra birthstone
Opal – another soft birthstone that can be damaged by everyday wear. Its hardness is 5.5
