Which gemstones can you wear every day?

Great for everyday rings

Hard and tough. Fine for rings worn every day.

• Diamond Mohs 10
• Alexandrite Mohs 8.5
• Ruby Mohs 9
• Sapphire Mohs 9

Good for everyday wear

Durable for most jewelry, including rings, with a little care.

• Garnet Mohs 6.5 to 7.5. Fair to good. Avoid hard blows and rough wear.
• Amethyst Mohs 7. Good. Suitable for all jewelry, including rings, if you remember it scratches more easily than harder gems.
• Aquamarine Mohs 7.5 to 8. Durable for jewelry if protected from scratches and hard knocks.
• Spinel Mohs 8. Good, which makes it a durable choice for jewelry.
• Citrine Mohs 7. Good. Suitable for all jewelry, including rings.

Wear with care

Can chip, crack or scratch. Protective settings, pendants and earrings are safer than everyday rings.

• Emerald Mohs 7.5 to 8. Fair to good. Needs more careful wear than ruby or sapphire.
• Peridot Mohs 6.5 to 7. Fair to good. Wear with care to avoid scratches and hard blows.
• Sardonyx Mohs 6.5 to 7
• Tourmaline Mohs 7 to 7.5. Fair.
• Topaz Mohs 8. Poor, because of its cleavage: a hard blow can split it. Pendants and earrings, or protective settings, are safer.
• Tanzanite Mohs 6 to 7. Fair to poor. It has cleavage and can break if struck.
• Zircon Mohs 6 to 7.5. Fair to good, and can be brittle: facet edges can chip.

Delicate

Soft or easily damaged. Best for pendants, earrings and occasional wear.

• Pearl Mohs 2.5. Usually good, but age, drying out and heavy bleaching can make pearls fragile.
• Moonstone Mohs 6 to 6.5. Poor. It has two cleavage directions, so a hard blow can break it; it is usually set in pendants, earrings and pins rather than rings.
• Opal Mohs 5 to 6.5. Very poor to fair. Wear with care to avoid scratching or breaking it.
• Turquoise Mohs 5 to 6. Fair to good.

Our groups are based on each gem's GIA care guide (hardness, toughness and stability). Bloodstone is not rated because our sources do not cover its durability. Checked October 16, 2026.