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Onyx

In jewelry design as in fashion, colors look crisper against a background of black, and black and white always looks right. In fine jewelry, the black backdrop is often supplied by onyx, a black chalcedony quartz with a fine texture. Some onyx also displays white bands or ribbons against a black background. If the layers are even, this type of onyx can be carved into cameos.

Onyx was very popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. The name comes from the Greek word 'onyx', which means nail or claw.

The story is that one day the frisky Eros/Cupid cut the divine fingernails of Venus with an arrowhead while she was sleeping. '. He left the clippings scattered on the sand and the fates turned them into stone so that no part of the heavenly body would ever perish. the gods turned them into stone which later became known as onyx. True, black isn't normally the color one associates
with fingernails. Because no part of a heavenly body can die,

(Did Venus wear Vamp, perhaps?) But in Greek times, almost all the colours of chalcedony from
fingernail white to dark brown and black were called onyx. Later, the Romans narrowed the term to refer to black and dark brown colors only.

Onyx which is reddish brown and white is known as sardonyx. Sardonyx was highly valued in Rome, especially for seals, because it was said never to stick to the wax.

A 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness., onyx is a very good stone for use in carving.

Black onyx shines especially well when used as a backdrop for colour play. Its fine texture also makes it ideal
for carving, making it a favored material for today's lapidaries. a carved piece of onyx with threads of white provides a stunning backdrop for a flash of color.
Onyx was often used as the perfect in art deco designs.
It is also popular in marquisate jewelry. So if you would like
to add a little black magic to your jewelry design, why not consider onyx

Onyx (Chalcedony, Quartz) Facts, Information and Description

Onyx is the Mystical birthstone for the month of December. It is also the birth stone for the
Zodiac sign of Leo. See the birthstone list for other references to onyx. Onyx is also given on the 7th and 10th wedding anniversary.

Onyx is a chalcedony quartz that is mined in Brazil, India, California and Uruguay. It has a fine texture
and black color; however some onyx also displays white bands or ribbons against a black or brown background
and this variety is known as sardonyx.

Originally, almost all colors of chalcedony from white to dark brown and black were called onyx. Today when we think of
onyx we often preface the word with black to distinguish it from other varieties of onyx that come in white, reddish
brown, brown and banded. A variety of onyx that is reddish brown with white and lighter reddish bands is known as
sardonyx.