Black Onyx, the traditional black gemstone, has taken center stage in the jewelry industry. People have called it the protective stone for centuries. If we talk about today, Onyx is an affordable gemstone that suits any budget and used to be extremely valuable.
Onyx is way more than just a black rock. Despite being available in a variety of colors, you can carve it into beautiful jewelry designs. A sleek and stylish jewelry piece, onyx jewelry has a glossy luster that makes it a perfect addition to any jewelry collection. And it’s a moment for Onyx as black jewelry is increasing in popularity!
Here’s all you should know about buying your piece of Onyx.
About the precious gemstone Onyx
It is a variety of layered chalcedony, similar to agate. The difference between Onyx and agate lies only in their band formation. Agate is available in curved bands, whereas the layers of Onyx are parallel.
Many people think Onyx is only available in solid black, but it comes in a variety of colors as well. Solid black is the most popular, followed by black and white stripes. Intaglios and cameos were among the popular uses for Onyx. As a result of its beautiful layers, gem engravers were able to manipulate the colors in order to create beautiful reliefs.
Many parts of the world, including South America, India, Indonesia, China, and Australia, have onyx deposits.
History About Onyx Gemstones Uses
Some people used to believe that onyx stones contained devils that would awaken at night and try to break apart partnerships.
The ancient Romans thought that taking sarcastic amulets into battle would benefit them since they were engraved with Mars, the God of War. Wearing these amulets brought confidence to Roman warriors.
People used Onyx to cure epilepsy in ancient Persia. Furthermore, it is a great astrological symbol. It defends the wearer and promotes resolve and stamina in ancient China.
People wore Onyx jewelry to boost their elegance in Renaissance Europe because Onyx correlated with conferring grace on the wearer.
Onyx was the gemstone chosen for mourning jewelry during the Victorian era because it reflected sobriety and somberness.
Since then, you can see a beautiful blend with diamonds set against gold or silver and utilized in a range of men’s and women’s jewelry.
Onyx Making & Chemical Properties
It is a variety of chalcedony whose name comes from the Greek word for “claw” or “nail”. Chalcedony is actually a mixture of quartz and morganite, whereas Onyx is often hexagonal in its microcrystalline state. Its shine is quite waxy and has a hardness level of 7. In addition to being waxy, it offers opaque transparency.
Some rare specimens of Onyx come in brown, yellow, blue, or red layers, in addition to black or white with bands. Due to the many bands or layers, it is possible to have intricate color patterns within a single gemstone.
The most common onyx layers are black and white, with a black foundation layer and a white top layer. This is commonly referred to as “Arabic onyx” or “true”. Beautiful jewelry with a hand-carved face or animal in white on a black backdrop may be seen, produced by cutting away at the white top layer to expose part of the black base layer.
“Nicolo onyx” is an onyx that is black at its base but has a very thin veneer of white on top. This type has a light coating of white on top of a black foundation that appears blue.
Sardonyx is a kind of Onyx with layers of yellow, red, or brownish color. It was quite widespread in European and Near Eastern cultures. It, too, can be carved identically, eliminating portions of the top layers so that each layer underneath the animal carving or design is visible.
It is possible to get pure black Onyx without any additional color layers. However, this is uncommon. If you find a pure black stone with no additional layers, it has most likely been dyed black to produce the pure hue.
Onyx Jewelry
Onyx jewelry is elegant and fashionable. Because a little onyx goes a long way, choose smaller-sized Onyx unless you’re wearing a big item.
Black gemstones are always eye-catching because black is eternal. Moreover, they make a good piece of jewelry. Besides, it lets you stand apart in a crowd with your jewelry.
If you want ot own something of Onyx, you can add a pair of delicate onyx earrings, a small pendant, or a ring. Also, it will be a perfect addition to everyday wear.
Some couples who are looking for something unique can opt for black engagement rings. An onyx ring is a good choice for them as it is affordable and beautiful. It is similar to the black diamond, although not as durable and shiny.
All in all, Onyx is a softer gemstone, and it has excellent wearability. Onyx has a modern, trendy look when paired with white metals and accent diamonds. But to prolong its life, you need to care a little extra.
