Onyx and Silver Necklace

Onyx and Silver Necklace

The Onyx and Silver Necklace features onyx, a form of quartz. While best known in the color black, onyx has bands whose colors range from white to almost any color imaginable. Sardonyx which is a variety of onyx, contains colored bands are shard, which are shades of red, instead of black. Onyx that is pure black is also common and the most well known variety; however, it is not as common as the banded onyx.

Onyx is the birthstone for the month of February and it is the stone that represents the Zodiac sign of Leo and is given on both the 7th and 11th wedding anniversary. The name comes from the Greek word onyx, which means nail of a finger or claw.

Legend of Onyx

Legends say that Venus went to sleep. Cupid then clipped her fingernails and left them strewn around on the ground. The gods could not destroy anything from heaven, so they turned them to stone. Onyx comes from this legend and has earned great respect among jewelers and jewelry lovers.

It would seem that Valentine’s Day and the history of how Cupid aided in the creation of this stone, at least in a mythical sense, are related. Knowing this would make a sterling silver onyx necklace the perfect gift for February’s special day.

Onyx and Color

Historically speaking, onyx was the name given to all stones that had the colors of chalcedody from white to brown and black. Nowadays, when one thinks of onyx, the black variety is what comes to mind. Onyx is thought to increase happiness, instincts, regeneration and intuition in those who wear it. Onyx, in all varieties, is also said to help the wearer to change some of their bad habits.

The color black is generally considered to be a color or elegance when used in fashion giving the wearer a more glamorous look. The combination of black and silver can do wonders to increase the effect of other colors in an ensemble or to give cleaner lines and an all around more intriguing appearance.

The natural beauty of onyx is highlighted through color enhancing using heating and dyes thus increasing its depth and color. Because it has a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs scale, it is an excellent stone for use in carving.

The gift of an onyx and sterling silver necklace is surely one that will delight the recipient and have them wanting to show off their gift with great pride to everyone they know.