06/18/2026
Most people think diamonds are indestructible, but that's not entirely true. Diamonds are the hardest natural material, meaning they resist scratching better than any other gemstone. However, they also have what is called a cleavage plane a direction in the crystal structure where the atomic bonds are weaker. If a diamond receives a strong impact at the right angle along one of these planes, it can chip, crack, or even split. This is why diamond cutters carefully use cleavage planes when shaping rough diamonds.