A Look At The Onyx Stone
The Onyx stone is a part of the quartz mineral group and is made up of lots of layers. Some of the different layers end up contrasting with each other. You may see black and white parallel layers, or sometimes you also see brown and white layers which are called Sardonyx. There is also a red and white layered version called a Carnelian Onyx. However, the most popular onyx stone on the market is the famous black Onyx, which is also the more expensive version of the stone. The onyx stone is usually dyed though to make the colour of the stone all the same. It is then usually heat-treated to make the colour much more intense and vibrant. These enhancements make the stone look much better without damaging or lowering the value of the stone.
Where Is The Onyx Stone Found?
The onyx stone is mainly sourced in 3 places - Algeria, Mexico and Arizona. You can also find the onyx stone in Uruguay, along the border of Brazil, India, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Peru and California. These were all good sources of the stone; however, there are now some cheaper imitations available on the market.
History of the Onyx Stone
This stone hasn’t always just been used for beautiful jewellery; it was also widely used as handles and bases for gold items. The Romans were very fond of using onyx seals and often used this stone for carving due to their different colours and layers. There are many famous carving of this stone throughout history, although today is it mainly used in jewellery. The onyx stone is typically associated with the birth month of December but is also linked to the zodiac sign Leo. It is believed that the onyx stone has lots of different properties. It is said to increase happiness, regeneration, intuition and instincts. It is also believed to increase sexual desire, and help the wearer change any bad habits. It is also thought by Indian and Persian people that wearing the onyx stone on your pregnant belly during labour will bring it on quicker and reduce pain. The black onyx stone was also once worn by Cleopatra herself who as we know, was a jewellery icon, she wore this stone around her neck as it was said to offer her extra protection.
The Legend Behind The Onyx Stone
The word onyx is a Greek word that means human nail or claw. This could be due to the colouring of the stone, as the veins that run throughout look like a fingernail. There is a story behind the stone involving the Greek goddess Venus. Legend has it that cupid came and cut Venus’ nails with the sharp end of her arrow whilst she was sleeping on the riverbank and then let the clippings sprinkle into the sacred river. These clippings settled of the riverbank and then turned into the beautiful onyx stone.
Looking After The Onyx Stone
The onyx stone rates a 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so it is a pretty tough stone and would be suitable for daily wear. The best way to clean your Onyx stone is to just wipe it clean with a damp cloth. It isn`t recommended that you use any sort of soap or chemicals as the material of the stone is very porous and is likely to absorb these over time and cause some discolouration to your jewellery. It is always best to seek professional advice and get good aftercare instructions from your jeweller when making your purchase.
Onyx Stone In Jewellery
The onyx stone really stands out in rings, pendants, broaches and bracelets. It is most commonly the colour black however many people do not realise that this stone also comes in red, white and brown, The Onyx Stone is an inexpensive stone and so a good choice for jewellery that you want to wear every day. The Silver or gold that the stone is set in will more than likely cost more than the stone itself. This stone is also the perfect gift for wedding anniversaries and should be given on the 7 th or10 th -anniversary date. The black onyx stone is always a popular choice. It is classic, sophisticated, elegant and looks a lot more expensive that is it. It will suit any look from day time wear to night time extravagance and would definitely stand out in the crowd.