Onyx: meaning, properties, care & jewellery

Onyx is one of the most striking natural stones in jewellery. The dark, finely banded chalcedony impresses with its elegant depth, clear appearance and versatile combinability. Whether in classic black, with fine light-coloured ribbons or in related variations: onyx lends pieces of jewellery a modern, powerful and timeless elegance.

In this guide you will learn what characterises onyx, how genuine onyx can be recognised, how to care for onyx jewellery properly and which pieces of jewellery with onyx are particularly popular at COEUR DE LION.

Note: Symbolic and spiritual meanings of onyx originate from tradition and esotericism. They are not scientifically proven and do not replace medical advice.

• Onyx is a banded variety of the chalcedony and belongs to the quartz family.
• Classic onyx shows parallel black and white bands.
• With a hardness of about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale onyx is well suited for jewellery.
• Typical are fine layers, dense structure and a calm, elegant lustre.
• Many of the products on the market today black onyxes are treated or coloured, especially if they appear uniformly deep black.

Onyx is a favourite because of its deep, clear colour effect and its good suitability for everyday use, it is particularly popular for elegant genuine stone jewellery. Discover real stone chains, real stone earrings and real stone bracelets with a natural look. You can also find many designs in our FINE EDITION and in models of the birthstone collection.

Onyx is a variety of the chalcedony-group and therefore a microcrystalline quartz. Characterised by its parallel layers of contrasting colours, classically black and white. In today's jewellery trade, the term black onyx is often also used for very dark or completely black chalcedony, even if no clear banding is visible. It is important to know that a large proportion of the uniformly black stones on the market are coloured or otherwise treated.

With a hardness of about 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale Onyx is robust enough for everyday use in jewellery, but should still be handled carefully to avoid scratches and dull surfaces.

Classic onyx shows black and white, parallel bands. Related variants are sardonyx with brown to reddish and white layers and carnelian onyx with red and white ribbons. These variants were historically particularly valued for stone cuts and jewellery objects.

In modern jewellery, above all deep black onyx is widespread. It looks minimalist, elegant and can be combined in many different ways. Polished pearls, cabochons and smooth stone elements emphasise the calm, rich effect of the material particularly beautifully.

Onyx is one of the most traditional materials for jewellery and stone carvings. Even in ancient times it was used for cameos, intaglio, rings and sealing stones. Particularly appreciated was the natural stratification, because motifs with a clear contrast could be worked out from light and dark layers.

To this day, onyx stands for a form of clear, reduced elegance that looks classic and modern at the same time. Especially in contemporary jewellery, the stone impresses with its dark depth and strong effect in combination with gold, silver, stainless steel or contrasting coloured stones.

Like other varieties of chalcedony, onyx consists predominantly of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and belongs to the group of microcrystalline quartz crystals. Its special effect is created by the fine layer formation, in which dark and light-coloured layers alternate in parallel. It is precisely this structure that distinguishes onyx from other varieties of chalcedony and agate.

In everyday gemmological life, the distinction between naturally banded onyx and coloured black chalcedony is important. Many stones sold as black onyx are treated, which can be visually attractive, but should be stated transparently.

Anyone who wants to buy genuine onyx jewellery should pay attention to the following points:

• Colour & surface: Deep black or clearly recognisable banding, even, silky-glossy polish - no "plastic-like" appearance.

• Weight & feel: Onyx looks pleasantly heavy, cool and "stony" for its size, not light like plastic.

• Editing: clean drill holes, bevelled or smooth polished surfaces without sharp edges.

COEUR DE LION uses onyx in various designs - from pearl bracelets to Art Deco-inspired pearls & onyx jewellery up to combinations with haematite and stainless steel.

Onyx is a robust natural stone and well suited for everyday use. So that onyx jewellery stays beautiful for a long time, simple care steps are recommended. The following are sufficient for cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. The piece of jewellery should then be carefully dried.

Avoid aggressive cleaning agents, heavy chemical exposure and unnecessarily hard knocks. It is best to store onyx jewellery stored separately in a soft pouch or case so that the polished surface remains protected and retains its lustre.