Can a diamond be chipped or broken?
Diamond is the hardest material known to man ranking a 10 in hardness on the mohs hardness scale. It is exponentially harder than sapphire ranking a 9 on the mohs hardness scale. Although the material is hard, it is not indestructible. In every diamond exists four cleavage planes, these are the very same planes a diamond is cleaved on in the cutting process. They are completely invisible to standard observation. If struck hard enough on one of the planes it is possible to chip, break, or even cleave your diamond. This is a very rare occurrence, but it is not impossible. As with all fine gemstones, care should be taken when wearing a diamond.
