Can You Scratch a Diamond?

While incredibly tough, diamonds are still vulnerable to scratches just like other gemstones. The Mohs' scale (scale of mineral hardness) specifically defines hardness as the resistance to being scratched.

Can a diamond be scratched by anything?

There is nothing that can scratch a diamond except another diamond. A mineral like talc, on the other hand, is a 1 on the scale. You could scratch it with any hard material, even your fingernail.

Can real diamonds chip or scratch?

Even though diamond is the hardest natural material, it can chip and fracture in the course of normal wear.