Diamonds are highly valued gemstones, prized for their exceptional beauty and sparkling appearance. They also possess an extraordinary reputation for being the hardest natural material on Earth. This characteristic often leads to the question of whether a diamond can truly be crushed, suggesting an inherent indestructibility. While diamonds are indeed remarkably durable, their resistance to damage involves a nuanced understanding of their specific material properties.
Understanding Diamond Properties
The perception of a diamond’s invincibility often stems from its extreme hardness. Hardness, in a scientific context, refers to a material’s resistance to scratching, and diamonds rank a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, making them the hardest known natural substance. However, hardness differs from toughness, which is a material’s ability to resist breaking, chipping, or fracturing under impact.
Diamonds possess a crystalline structure where each carbon atom is bonded to four others in a tetrahedral pattern. Despite these strong bonds, diamonds have specific planes of weakness, known as cleavage planes, where atomic bonds are less strong. These planes allow the diamond to split cleanly along these directions when subjected to sufficient force.
When Diamonds Break
A diamond can indeed break, chip, or fracture when subjected to specific types of force, particularly sharp impacts or crushing pressure. For instance, a direct blow from a hammer, if applied with enough force and at the correct angle, can cause a diamond to shatter along its cleavage planes. Dropping a diamond ring onto a hard surface like tile or concrete, or hitting the stone against a hard object, can also lead to chips or fractures, especially along edges or pointed facets.
Damage can occur not through deformation, but through breakage due to the diamond’s brittle nature. Areas like the girdle, the diamond’s outermost edge, or sharp corners in certain cuts are more vulnerable to direct contact and impact. Internal imperfections, such as inclusions or stress points from the cutting process, can also make a diamond more susceptible to breakage, even from a seemingly minor tap.
Protecting Your Diamond
Understanding a diamond’s properties allows for practical measures to protect these valuable gemstones. To prevent damage, it is advisable to remove diamond jewelry during strenuous activities such as sports, gardening, or manual labor, as these can expose the stone to impacts or crushing forces. Chemicals found in cleaning products, lotions, or even swimming pools can weaken the metal settings that hold the diamond, indirectly increasing the risk of damage.
Proper storage is also important for safeguarding diamonds. Storing diamond jewelry separately in a secure, padded case, a soft pouch, or a compartmentalized jewelry box prevents accidental scratches or impacts from other jewelry pieces, including other diamonds. Regular professional cleaning and inspection of the setting can help ensure that the prongs holding the diamond are secure and that any potential issues are addressed before they lead to damage. While diamonds are durable for everyday wear, treating them with care helps preserve their integrity and brilliance.