Moissanite Hardness & Durability: Will It Scratch or Chip?

The most common worry about moissanite is durability. The short answer: it is one of the toughest gemstones you can put in a ring.

Mohs hardness: 9.25

Only diamond (10) is harder. In practice, nothing you meet in daily life — keys, counters, door handles — is hard enough to scratch moissanite.

Can moissanite chip?

Any stone can chip if struck at the wrong angle with enough force. Moissanite has no cleavage planes, meaning it has no natural weak direction, so it resists chipping better than emerald or even diamond in some orientations.

What about the setting?

Most ring damage is setting damage, not stone damage. Choose a protected setting such as a bezel or a low-profile basket if you are hard on your hands, and have the prongs checked once a year.

Verdict

For an engagement ring, wedding band or bracelet worn daily, moissanite is more than durable enough. Learn more in our moissanite guide.