What the Mohs scale actually tells you
The Mohs scale ranks minerals from 1 (softest, like talc) to 10 (hardest, diamond) by scratch resistance. It is relative, not linear: a higher number simply means the stone can scratch anything below it and resists being scratched by it. For jewellery the useful threshold is around 7: the hardness of everyday dust and grit. Stones at 7 and above shrug off daily knocks; softer ones gradually lose their polish.
Mohs hardness: the everyday-wear line at 7
- Selenite 2
- Malachite 3.5
- Fluorite 4
- Lapis 5.5
- Opal 6
- Quartz 7
- Aquamarine 7.5
- Topaz 8
The everyday champions (Mohs 7 and above)
These take daily wear in their stride: ideal for bracelets you never take off and for rings, which get the most knocks:
- The quartz family (7): amethyst, clear quartz, rose quartz, citrine, smoky quartz, tiger's eye, agate, jasper, carnelian and aventurine. Hard, affordable and available in every colour.
- Tougher still: aquamarine (7.5 to 8), garnet (7 to 7.5) and black tourmaline (7 to 7.5).
If you want one safe rule for a daily bracelet or a ring, choose a quartz-family stone. For help picking by metal, size and style, see our crystal jewellery guide.
The middle ground (Mohs 5 to 6)
Beautiful but a little softer: perfect for necklaces and earrings, which take less impact than rings, and fine for occasional bracelets if you treat them gently: lapis lazuli, turquoise, moonstone, opal, sodalite and apatite. Keep these drier and store them away from harder stones. Apatite is the softest of this group at Mohs 5, and the one most often mistaken for other gems, as our apatite guide explains.
The delicate ones (below Mohs 5)
Fluorite (4), malachite (3.5 to 4), angelite (3.5) and selenite (2) are gorgeous but scratch and chip easily. Wear them as pendants, earrings or occasional pieces, never in a daily ring, and store each one separately. See which can touch water at all in our water-safe crystals guide.
One styling rule that saves your stones
Do not stack a hard stone next to a soft one on the same wrist: the harder beads will scratch the softer ones as they rub. Keep a "soft" bracelet (malachite, fluorite) on its own, or pair it only with similar-hardness stones.
Stacking by hardness
Do
- Amethyst, tiger's eye and agate
- All Mohs 7, stack freely
Avoid
- Quartz (7) next to malachite (3.5)
- The hard beads scratch the soft ones
Shop everyday-durable crystals at Crystals Healing UK
Quartz-family stones built for daily wear. Free UK delivery over £30.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear amethyst every day?
Yes. Amethyst is Mohs 7 and hard-wearing, just keep it out of long, strong sunlight to protect the colour.
Is fluorite ok for a bracelet?
Only for occasional, gentle wear. At Mohs 4 it scratches easily, so it is better as a pendant or a "special occasion" piece, stored separately.
Does a high hardness mean unbreakable?
No. Hardness is scratch resistance; toughness is resistance to chipping or breaking. A hard stone can still chip on a sharp knock, so treat all jewellery with care.
Which is the toughest stone you stock for daily wear?
Aquamarine and black tourmaline are among the hardest, but the everyday all-rounders are the quartz family: amethyst, clear quartz, tiger's eye and agate.
