Do Moonstones Crack Easily? How to Take Care of the Moonstone?

Moonstone, a colorless to white stone with a captivating moonlight-like sheen, is a gemstone that stands out with its unique characteristics.

Also known as the 'lover's stone', it symbolizes love and friendship, making it a perfect gift for someone special. As a June birthstone, it represents new beginnings, intuition, and inner growth, adding to its allure and fascination.

Do Moonstones Crack Easily?

Do moonstones crack easily? Yes, moonstones are prone to cracking. Moonstones are moderately hard (Mohs 6-6.5) and have perfect cleavage (they break along a smooth, flat plane), making them prone to cracking. Their internal layered structure, which gives them their unique glow, also contributes to their fragility.

Because moonstones can scratch easily and are prone to breaking, they are usually set in pendants, necklaces and earrings to minimize these chances.

How to Know if Gemstones Crack Easily?

Gemstones are rated based on hardness, cleavage, porosity, density, internal structure, and inclusion.

Moonstones are fragile and may chip, crack and damage more often than other gemstones for several reasons. Here, we will examine the properties that make moonstones more delicate than many other stones.

1. Hardness

The Mohs Scale of Hardness compares the ability of minerals to resist scratches by ten reference minerals that vary in hardness.

Moonstone measures 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. This rating indicates that moonstones are easily scratched and prone to breaking. Although sturdy enough to use in jewelry making, they can easily become damaged if enough force is applied.

2. Cleavage

Cleavage refers to the weakest part of a gemstone, where it can split when struck with a hammer in a specific direction. Weak atomic bonds cause cleavage in gemstones, and moonstones crack because they have perfect cleavage (they break along a smooth, flat plane).

3. Porosity

The porosity of a gemstone tells you if it has pores that can absorb materials. Amber, coral, natural emeralds, moonstones, opals and pearls all retain a porous quality. Moonstone may absorb water, causing it to crack or become discolored.

This means that the longer these stones receive exposure to direct sunlight, harsh chemicals, perfumes, perfumes and liquids, the greater their chances of getting damaged and fading.

4. Density

It is important to understand gemstone density since purchasing colored gems by carat weight can have unintended consequences, leading you to buy more or less than intended. The density of gemstones is the ratio of the density of the material to the density of the same amount of water.

A moonstone's density ranges from 2.56 to 2.59, which is considered relatively low compared to many other minerals, and its chemical composition is potassium aluminum silicate. Due to its low density, moonstone may be more susceptible to cracking and chipping.

5. Internal Structure

The internal structure of moonstones plays a significant role in its tendency to crack.

Moonstones are part of the feldspar group and exhibit an internal structure made up of intergrown layers of different feldspar minerals, typically orthoclase and albite. The layered internal structure of the moonstone can create planes of weakness within the gemstone.

6. Inclusion

Moonstones tend to contain inclusions or cracks. Unlike diamond or topaz, this is one of the unique features of this gemstone. Even higher quality moonstones can contain a few. This can weaken the stone and increase the likelihood of cracking.

A List of Popular Gemstones and Their Tendency to Crack

Do moonstones crack easily? You can also compare it to other gemstones to see if they crack easily. Here is a list of popular gemstones, starting with those that crack the easiest:

Opal: High water content and internal structure make it very prone to cracking, especially due to dehydration or sudden temperature changes.

Fluorite: Very soft (Mohs 4) and has perfect cleavage, making it extremely susceptible to cracking.

Turquoise: Porous and relatively soft, it can crack easily, especially if exposed to chemicals or impact.

Tanzanite: Has perfect cleavage and is relatively soft (Mohs 6-7), making it prone to cracking.

Topaz: Exhibits perfect cleavage, particularly in the direction that makes it easy to split.

Moonstone: Due to its perfect cleavage and internal layered structure, it can crack with sharp impacts.

Emerald: Often has inclusions and internal fractures, making it more fragile and prone to cracking.

Peridot: Fairly soft (Mohs 6.5-7) with a tendency to chip or crack under stress.

Labradorite: Similar to moonstone, with perfect cleavage and internal layers that can lead to cracking.

Pearl: Organic and very soft, easily damaged by impact, chemicals, and dehydration.

Sapphire: Very hard (Mohs 9) and durable, but can still crack if struck with a very hard blow or if it has inclusions.

Diamond: The hardest mineral (Mohs 10), but it has perfect cleavage in four directions and can crack or chip if struck at the right angle.

Moonstone Hardness

Moonstone has a relatively low score on the hardness scale. Moonstones measure between 6-6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them relatively soft in the world of gemology. This hardness rating is similar to a common piece of glass, so they are sturdy enough to be used in jewelry-making.

At the same time, they can be easily scratched or broken with enough force. In comparison, diamonds have a hardness rating of 10 and emeralds measure between 7.5-8.

Is Moonstone Durable Enough for Daily Wear?

In general, moonstones are durable enough for daily wear as long as the wearer is careful. If breakage is a concern, consider jewelry with a protective setting, like a bezel or halo setting.

It's best to avoid moonstone rings if you work a lot with your hands, but necklaces and earrings are relatively safe.

To minimize the risk of scratching or breaking your moonstone jewelry, take them off before engaging in risky activities, which can range from contact sports to household chores.

Store them away from hard gemstones and metals, ideally in a cloth bag or lined box to cushion against scratches.

Any pieces that are frequently worn can be cleaned with mild soap and water or a soft cloth to restore their luster.