What is a gem tester? Diamond tester?

gemstone tester

There is no reliable portable stone tester. There are dozens of models, but in fact they are hardness testers, which does not prove the authenticity of the stone.

Unfortunately, this is one of the most commonly used tools by gem dealers.

If you look at the picture, you will see a string with numbers starting from left to right at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5….

The LEDs light up when touching the surface of the stone. You can see a number that corresponds to the hardness of the stone.

This information is accurate. This is the hardness scale, also called the Mohs scale.

Mohs Hardness Examples

1 - Conversation

2 - Plaster

3 - Calcite

4 - Fluorite

5 - approx.

6 - orthoclase scaling

7 - Quartz

8 - Topaz

9 - Corundum

10 - Diamond

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is based on the capacity of a single mineral sample. The samples of matter used by Mohs are different minerals. Naturally occurring minerals are chemically pure solids. One or more minerals also form rocks. As the most complex natural substance known, diamonds are at the top of the scale when Mohs created the scale.

The hardness of a material is measured on a scale by finding the hardest material in the stone and comparing it to the softest material by scratching the material. For example, if a material can be scratched by apatite but not by fluorite, its Mohs hardness will drop between 4 and 5.

The hardness of a stone is due to its chemical composition.

Since synthetic stone has the same chemical composition as natural stone, this tool will show exactly the same result for natural or synthetic stone.

Therefore, a natural or synthetic diamond will show you 10. A natural or synthetic ruby ​​will also show you 9. Same for natural or synthetic sapphire: 9. Also for natural or synthetic quartz: 7…

If you are interested in this topic, want to move from theory to practice, we offer gemology courses.