GEM HARDNESS

The ability of a gemstone to hold a cut or carving is determined by the hardness of its structure. The hardest gemstones, such as diamond, ruby and sapphire, hold facets very well. At the softest end, gemstones are usually cut into smooth cabochon surfaces or carved into beads or decorative pieces, such as statuary, boxes, and dishes.
There are organic gemstones that are created by animals and plants, such as pearl, coral and amber. All of them are too soft for facets but carve very well.
For the purpose of Gor, such gemstones as Schendi diamonds would rate the same as diamonds. An additional term may mean that the color is slightly different or that there are minerals that create a certain effect.
This table shows gemstones in descending order of hardness.

GEM COLOR CUT HARD

Diamond Blue, clear, green, pink, violet, yellow Marquise, oval, pear, round 10

Ruby Red Cabochon, oval, round 9

Sapphire Blue, clear, green, pink, violet, yellow Cabochon, oval, rectangular, round, square 9

Star Ruby/Sapphire Blue, gray, red Cabochon 9

Cat's Eye Sapphire Yellow Cabochon 8.5

Topaz Blue, clear, pink, yellow Oval, pear, rectangular, round 8

Emerald Green Cabochon, oval, pear, rectangular 7.5-8

Amethyst Purple Cabochon, oval, pear 7

Citrine Yellow Emerald, oval, rectangular 7

Rose Quartz Pink Cabochon, carved 7

Quartz Clear Emerald, oval, rectangular 7

Eyes (Bull, Cat, Hawk, Tiger) Blue, green, yellow Cabochon 7

Onyx Black/white, gray/white Cabochon, carved 7

Aventurine Green, white Cabochon, carved 7

Jade Blue, green, red, white, yellow Cabochon, carved 7

Peridot Yellow green Oval, pear, rectangular, round, square 6.5-7

Hematite Dark grey, black with red interior Cabochon, carved 6.5

Moonstone Milky white, dull yellow, yellow grey, greenish grey Cabochon 6-6.5

Opal Black, white Cabochon 5.5-6.5

Opal, Fire Orange, red, yellow Cabochon, faceted 5.5-6.5

Turquoise Sky blue Cabochon, carved 5-6

Lapis Lazuli Blue Cabochon, carved 5-5.5

Malachite Green Cabochon, carved 4

Pearl Black, grey, pink, white Bean, egg, pear, round 2.5-4.5

Coral Black, blue, pink, red, white Cabochon, carved 2.5-2.75

Ivory White Cabochon, carved 2.5-2.75

Amber Brown, orange, red, yellow Cabochon, carved 2.5

GEM	COLOR	CUT	HARD
Diamond	Blue, clear, green, pink, violet, yellow	Marquise, oval, pear, round	10
Ruby	Red	Cabochon, oval, round	9
Sapphire	Blue, clear, green, pink, violet, yellow	Cabochon, oval, rectangular, round, square	9
Star Ruby/Sapphire	Blue, gray, red	Cabochon	9
Cat's Eye Sapphire	Yellow	Cabochon	8.5
Topaz	Blue, clear, pink, yellow	Oval, pear, rectangular, round	8
Emerald	Green	Cabochon, oval, pear, rectangular	7.5-8
Amethyst	Purple	Cabochon, oval, pear	7
Citrine	Yellow	Emerald, oval, rectangular	7
Rose Quartz	Pink	Cabochon, carved	7
Quartz	Clear	Emerald, oval, rectangular	7
Eyes (Bull, Cat, Hawk, Tiger)	Blue, green, yellow	Cabochon	7
Onyx	Black/white, gray/white	Cabochon, carved	7
Aventurine	Green, white	Cabochon, carved	7
Jade	Blue, green, red, white, yellow	Cabochon, carved	7
Peridot	Yellow green	Oval, pear, rectangular, round, square	6.5-7
Hematite	Dark grey, black with red interior	Cabochon, carved	6.5
Moonstone	Milky white, dull yellow, yellow grey, greenish grey	Cabochon	6-6.5
Opal	Black, white	Cabochon	5.5-6.5
Opal, Fire	Orange, red, yellow	Cabochon, faceted	5.5-6.5
Turquoise	Sky blue	Cabochon, carved	5-6
Lapis Lazuli	Blue	Cabochon, carved	5-5.5
Malachite	Green	Cabochon, carved	4
Pearl	Black, grey, pink, white	Bean, egg, pear, round	2.5-4.5
Coral	Black, blue, pink, red, white	Cabochon, carved	2.5-2.75
Ivory	White	Cabochon, carved	2.5-2.75
Amber	Brown, orange, red, yellow	Cabochon, carved	2.5