CAN DIAMONDS CUT GLASS?

You’d be amazed at how many times I get asked…

“Can diamonds cut glass?”

Not to mention this question…

“If a diamond cuts glass, does that mean it’s real?”

Of course there’s truth to these questions, or otherwise those sayings wouldn’t be so popular.

But in reality, it’s not all that cut and dry…

Yes, diamonds (diamond is a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness) can cut glass (glass is a 6 – 7 on the Mohs scale).

In fact, anything harder and more durable than glass can cut glass.

It’s just the law of nature and physics. The stronger substance always wins.

Always?

Well, maybe I spoke too soon…

It also depends on how you cut the glass.

Testing this theory…

If you’re thinking about testing this theory “Does a diamond cut glass or not?” and you’re thinking about taking your diamond and placing the edge to a piece of glass and pulling… DON’T! You’ve got another thing coming…

For if you place the diamond’s edge (the girdle) to a flat plane of glass… look out!

You may scratch the glass, you may even cut the glass, but… You also may do damage to your diamond, or you may even break your stone.

Why?

Because diamonds can chip or break easily.

If too much pressure is applied or forced to the thin girdle’s edge “CRACK!”

So much for testing. :(

The girdle is the weakest part of the diamond, and it really doesn’t take much to break it. One good hit, blow, trauma, strike, bump, or pressure could cause it to snap, or chip that fragile, delicate border.

Jewelers chip diamonds all the time by asserting too much pressure against the diamond’s girdle. Just folding the metal prongs over the stone could be enough to take a chunk out of the diamond.

So while a diamond may be the hardest natural substance known to man, and while a diamond is about forty times more durable and harder than glass, trying this simple girdle to glass test could really do some damage to your expensive diamond (who cares about the glass).

The best way to test it…

A diamond tester is a much easier method of determining if a diamond is genuine or not.

And even if your diamond did happen to cut glass, that doesn’t actually mean it’s a diamond. A lot of things can cut glass. Literally anything higher up the Moh’s scale of hardness (like white sapphire) can cut glass.

So a diamond tester is the best possible way of knowing the real truth.

Usually what people mean when they say “diamonds cut glass” is that using the right tools, sure, diamond has no problems with cutting glass. Most drill bits and even dentist’s drills are made with diamond dust (think about that the next time you’re getting a cavity filled). The pieces of diamond used for these tools are finely ground Up pieces of diamond that are not worth much (industrial diamonds fall below the I3 clarity range). Nothing at all like a big, beautiful, expensive diamond engagement ring (like these engagement rings here).

P.S. Diamond is the only thing that can cut another diamond…

So leave the testing to the pros.

Just know that yes, diamonds can cut glass.

But then again, diamonds cut steel, gold, titanium, tungsten, iron, emerald, sapphire and ruby, too.

So glass is not a big deal at all.

Check out these diamond testers HERE.

Cheers! :)