Skip to main content

Can you wear lab diamonds every day?

Quick answer

Yes. Lab diamonds score 10 on the Mohs scale, the same as mined diamonds, so they are the hardest material in everyday wear and not at real risk from typical surfaces. The setting around them is the part that needs attention: yearly prong checks and weekly cleaning keep an engagement ring looking sharp for decades.

Why Mohs 10 matters in practice

Diamond is the only natural or synthetic material that scores 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. The next-hardest material in normal life is something like sapphire (9) or a ceramic watch bezel (around 8 to 8.5). Everyday surfaces sit much lower: stainless steel is around 5.5, glass around 5.5 to 6, granite around 6 to 7. None of those can scratch a diamond. The hardness applies equally to lab and mined since the carbon lattice is the same.

What does need attention

The metal around the stone is the part that wears. Gold sits at Mohs 2.5 to 3 and platinum at around 4 to 4.5, so both pick up fine surface scratches with daily use. Prongs gradually thin from rubbing against fabric, and pave melee can loosen as the channel wears. A yearly check from a jeweller is the simplest protection; they will re-tip prongs, tighten loose stones and polish the band.

Next step

Browse lab-grown diamond rings

See current lab-grown diamond engagement rings across shapes, settings and prices, all IGI-certified.

Browse lab-grown diamond rings

Still curious

Have a question we haven't answered?

Send us a note. We reply to every enquiry, usually within one business day.

Contact the studio