Moissanite 101
Does Moissanite Scratch?
Practically no β but the answer is more interesting than a yes or a no, and the metal is a different story.
Written by the Mapple Gems workshop, Surat Β· Updated 24 August 2026
Short answer
In everyday wear, no. Moissanite is Mohs 9.25 and the abrasive in ordinary household dust is quartz at Mohs 7 β well below it. Only something harder than 9.25 can scratch it, which in practice means a diamond, another moissanite, or industrial abrasives. What does scratch is the metal around it, and what people usually mistake for a scratched stone is a film of soap and skin oil, or a chip rather than a scratch.
The scratching question is really a question about cubic zirconia in disguise. A lot of people have owned a CZ ring that went visibly dull after a couple of years, and they are reasonably asking whether moissanite does the same thing. It does not, and the reason is a specific number.
The number that decides it
Ordinary household and airborne dust contains quartz β silica β which sits at Mohs 7. That is the abrasive doing the work every time you wipe a surface, put your hand in a pocket, or set a ring down.
A material harder than the dust does not abrade. A material softer than it does. That single comparison explains almost everything about how stones age.
| Material | Mohs | Ages how? |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond | 10 | Facet edges stay crisp indefinitely |
| Moissanite | 9.25 | Facet edges stay crisp indefinitely |
| Sapphire / ruby | 9 | Excellent |
| Cubic zirconia | 8.25 β 8.5 | Edges soften over a few years β the classic clouding |
| Quartz (household dust) | 7 | This is the abrasive doing the damage |
| 18K gold | approx. 2.8 | Scratches constantly |
| Sterling silver | approx. 2.6 | Scratches faster still |
Note where the gold sits. The metal in your ring is roughly a quarter as hard as the dust that touches it every day. That is not a defect β it is what precious metal is.
Hardness is not toughness
Worth separating, because the two get conflated and it changes what you should worry about.
Hardness is resistance to scratching. Moissanite is excellent here.
Toughness is resistance to chipping and breaking under impact. Moissanite is good but not immune. A sharp knock against a doorframe or a granite worktop can chip any faceted stone, and the vulnerable places are the same on all of them: exposed points on pears, marquises and hearts, and the girdle where it sits proud of the setting.
So the realistic risk to a moissanite is not that it dulls. It is a single unlucky impact, which is a setting question rather than a stone question β and the reason a bezel is worth considering for hands-on work.
What people actually bring us as βa scratched stoneβ. In order of frequency: a film of soap, lotion and skin oil on the underside of the stone, which washes off completely; scratches on the metal beside the stone being read as damage to the stone; and light scratching across the flat table of a step cut such as an emerald or Asscher, from being stored loose in a bag with other jewellery. Genuine abrasion of a moissanite from ordinary wear is not something we see. Store pieces separately and most of this disappears.
What genuinely can scratch it
- Another moissanite or a diamond. Two rings knocking together in a jewellery box, or worn stacked on the same finger. This is the realistic route.
- Diamond-impregnated tools. Nail files, some sharpening blocks, certain polishing compounds. Take rings off around them.
- Industrial abrasives such as silicon carbide grit β which is chemically the same material as moissanite. Relevant only in a workshop setting.
Everything else in ordinary life is below Mohs 9.25 and simply cannot mark it.
Practical steps that actually matter
- Store pieces separately β individual pouches or a lined box with compartments. This prevents both stone-on-stone scratching and metal scratching in one step.
- Clean underneath the stone, not the top. Warm soapy water and a soft brush aimed at the pavilion, where the film builds.
- Take rings off for the gym. Grip loads deform metal and knock stones far more than any chemical does.
- Expect the metal to mark, and accept it. Gold and silver acquire a fine web of surface scratches within months. A polish restores it; it will happen again.
- If a stone looks genuinely damaged, have it looked at under magnification β a chip and a scratch need different responses, and a chip at the girdle can affect how securely the stone is held.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Does moissanite scratch easily?
No. At Mohs 9.25 it is far harder than the quartz in household dust at Mohs 7, which is what abrades jewellery day to day. Only a diamond, another moissanite or an industrial abrasive can scratch it. The metal around the stone is a different matter β gold sits at about Mohs 2.8 and marks constantly.
Why does cubic zirconia cloud but moissanite does not?
Because cubic zirconia sits at roughly Mohs 8.25 to 8.5, which is above quartz but close enough that fine abrasion softens its facet edges over a few years, scattering light instead of returning it. Moissanite at 9.25 is far enough above the abrasive that this does not happen.
Can moissanite chip?
Yes. Hardness resists scratching; toughness resists impact, and they are separate properties. A sharp knock against stone or metal can chip any faceted gem, with exposed points on pears, marquises and hearts most at risk, along with a girdle sitting proud of the setting. A bezel setting substantially reduces this.
My moissanite looks scratched β what is it?
Most often a film of soap, lotion and skin oil on the underside, which washes off with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Second most often, scratches on the metal beside the stone being read as damage to the stone itself. Genuine abrasion of the stone from ordinary wear is very rare; if something looks like a chip, have it checked under magnification.
The stone will outlast the setting.
Which is why we would rather you spent on how the ring is built than on the last colour grade.
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