---
title: "Scratch: meaning in gemology"
description: "A scratch is a thin, dull white line across the surface with no clear depth at 10x."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/scratch
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Clarity characteristics

# Scratch

Also called scratches

A scratch is a thin, dull white line across the surface with no clear depth at 10x.

## In more detail

Diamond, at Mohs 10, resists scratches best of all gems, but diamonds can scratch each other. So keep diamond jewelry apart from other diamonds.

## On a grading report

A blemish; it can count in the polish grade.

## Related terms

- [Polish](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/polish): Polish is the grade for the smoothness of the facet surfaces, from Excellent to Poor. The grader looks at 10x for pits, nicks, polish lines, scratches, burn marks and rough patches.
- [Hardness (Mohs)](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/hardness): Hardness is a gem's resistance to scratching. Gemologists rank it on the Mohs scale, on which diamond is 10.
- [Abrasion](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/abrasion): An abrasion is a row of tiny nicks along the facet junctions of a cut diamond. It makes the edges look white or fuzzy.
- [Blemish](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/blemish): A blemish is a clarity characteristic confined to the surface of a diamond.

## Learn more

- [Polish, symmetry and fluorescence on a diamond report](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/grading-reports/polish-symmetry-and-fluorescence)

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)