Stone guide · stones, plainly
Learn about black onyx
Absolute matte black chalcedony, the quietest stone we set.
- The facts
- Stone facts
- Hardness
- 7 / 10 Mohs
- Birthstone
- None
- Anniversary
- 7th
The mineral
A stone we choose loose, in daylight, one at a time.
In the hand
At 7 / 10 on the Mohs scale it is everyday-hard with sense: fine for daily wear, taken off for the gym and the garden.
Treatment, plainly
Untreated unless its passport says otherwise. When a stone of ours is heated, the passport says heated, in that word, and the price reflects it.
Choosing one
Photographs flatter and light booths lie. We choose black onyx in north daylight, loose, against ivory paper, and we would rather show you two honest stones than twenty pretty pictures. Absolute matte black chalcedony, the quietest stone we set.
Care
Warm water and a soft cloth, nothing ultrasonic. Store it in its own pouch, away from harder stones, and bring it to the studio once a year; the check costs nothing.
Asked about black onyx
Is black onyx right for daily wear?
At 7 / 10 on the Mohs scale it is everyday-hard with sense: fine for daily wear, taken off for the gym and the garden.
Is it treated?
Untreated unless its passport says otherwise. When a stone of ours is heated, the passport says heated, in that word, and the price reflects it.
What does it cost here?
Current works with this stone start at $860. Every piece is one of a kind, so prices move with the stone, never with a formula.
How do I know what I am buying?
Every stone that leaves the studio carries a passport: species, carat, cut, origin as far as it is knowable, and treatment in full words. If a lab has seen it, the certificate number is on the passport.
Current works & prices
