KhyatiGems knowledge library
Diamond
Diamond is crystalline carbon. Natural and laboratory-grown diamonds must be distinguished in descriptions; simulants are different materials that resemble diamond.
AI-assisted source review · 2026-10-16. No named gemologist review is claimed. How this reference was reviewed.
Mario Sarto · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0
| Material classification | Diamond |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness (reference) | 10 |
Identity and appearance
Diamond is crystalline carbon. Natural and laboratory-grown diamonds must be distinguished in descriptions; simulants are different materials that resemble diamond.
Hardness describes resistance to scratching. Diamond can still chip or cleave after a blow, so the highest Mohs number is not a promise of indestructibility.
Care and handling
Read the report scope and comments, and check how the report is matched to the stone. A grading report for another diamond is not transferable evidence.
Questions for an individual stone
Keep the material name, natural or laboratory-grown origin, treatment description and any report together. Ask which conclusions were established by examination and which remain unknown. The reference properties here describe a material; they are not measurements of a stone offered for sale.
If a description and report disagree, request clarification before making a decision. Photographs are useful for discussing appearance, but cannot authenticate a specimen. Keep care instructions with the item so that a jeweller or repairer can assess it before work begins.
Comparison and interpretation
Separate identification, formation and grading. A report identifying a diamond does not automatically answer every grading question, while a laboratory-grown diamond is different from a diamond simulant. Read the exact report type and the conclusions it contains. When comparing colour and clarity grades, check that the reports use the relevant grading system and that the documents match the stones. An online report lookup confirms a record, but matching that record to an object remains a separate step. Measurements, inscriptions where present and a professional examination may help with that process.
Choosing and documenting a piece
Consider wear and setting independently of the Mohs scale. A diamond may resist scratching while remaining vulnerable to chipping from an impact, particularly at an exposed point or existing weakness. Ask a jeweller to inspect the stone and mounting before repair or intensive cleaning. Treatments and surface coatings require disclosure and can change the care discussion. A photograph alone cannot resolve all these details. Keep the full report and written description, including comments, so that a future repairer can assess the actual item rather than rely on the general reputation of diamond.
Before making a decision
For diamond, ask the seller to identify the actual item, state what remains unknown and explain the scope of any report. Keep photographs, measurements and written disclosures together. If an answer matters to your decision, obtain it before commissioning a setting or arranging a repair.
Sources and further reading
- GIA Diamond reference Checked 2026-10-16