Black OnyxBy:Yuman Hussain
Summary: Most of the black onyx which is produced commercially is heated and permanently dyed to enhance the depth of the black color making it exotic.
Black Onyx- Facts and Buying guide
An anniversary gemstone for the 10th year of marriage black onyx looks
elegant as a piece of jewelry. Onyx is one of the banded varieties of
Chalcedony or Agate. It is known as 'nail of a finger or claw' in Greek
mythology. The attributes ranges from translucent to opaque in some stones
and strongly white or black banded. Coming in varieties of colors including
brown, white, grey and black the one which looks most stunning is the black
Onyx. It is basically Agate which is dyed to get the black color. Used
traditionally for carving cameos, you will often find it as shiny background
for any jewelry due to its fine texture and smoothness. Sardonyx is onyx
with white bands or ribbons on black or brown background and is different
from black colored onyx.
Black onyx is most commonly available stone world over. This stone is mined
in many countries including Brazil, Mexico, England, Pakistan, Uruguay,
India and California. A type of microcrystalline Silicon dioxide it is used
extensively for carving and no doubt in great demand with lapidary artists
due to its hardness which is 7 on Mohs scale. The specific gravity ranges
from 2.65 to 2.66.The Refractive index or R.I is 1.543-1.552 to 1.545-
1.554.The optical sign is positive with uni axial optical character.
Right from the antiquity Onyx as a stone is dyed to improve the color and
texture. Dyeing is a process to alter the color of a gem by dipping it in a
solution to allow the dye penetrates through fractures present in the stone.
Black onyx was first made some 4000 years back in Harappan civilization. In
fact one can make black onyx by keeping banded agate into the solution of
honey and sugar water over low heat for couple of days. The porous bands
will absorb the liquid and when heated the sugar will caramelize producing
deep brown color. If these stones are further put into Sulfuric acid the
sugar will carbonize producing black color onyx. This method is in use since
ages and said to produce permanent result. Most of the black onyx which is
produced commercially is heated and permanently dyed to enhance the depth of
the black color making it exotic. The natural onyx is extremely rare to be
found. The dye used in the process is stable and one should be careful while
cleaning to avoid removing or dulling this stone. Irradiation is another
process which is used for producing different colors.
Black Onyx chip or get scratches easily if not handled carefully though it
is easy to clean the stone with any commercial jewelry polish. After polish
the piece should be washed with hot water and dried with soft cloth. A drop
of Olive oil can produce beautiful shine to the stone. A plain water rinse
can also clean the dirt but never soak the stone as it can fade the dye. Do
not keep two stones together to avoiding touching. It is best to avoid
excessive heat, light, heavy chemicals, steam cleaners or any heavy duty
cleaning aids to prolong the durability of the stone.
It is widely believed that black onyx can change your erratic habits for
good if used with faith. It is considered as one of the powerful protection
stones as it absorbs negative energy relieving people of mental stress and
promotes emotional well-being. Black onyx is associated with planet Saturn
and it said to bring positive vibes for those with a strong Saturn in their
birth charts. In Indian traditions it is said to help people forego their
past relationships bringing the person in harmony with the present. It is
common to find rosaries made of black onyx as it is believed to have
medicinal benefits.
Black onyx is an affordable stone and available in various sizes. While
buying, check for smooth marble like surface. The stone should not have any
scratches or dents. Sometimes black onyx is confused with black jade, black
Chalcedony, black diamond, glass or plastic. The black onyx jewelry looks
really beautiful when put together with stones like pearls. If you want to
look mystical then go for black onyx.
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