Collection: Onyx

The most famous legend belongs to Greek mythology. It is said that this fabulous black stone owes its name to Aphrodite's nails. The beauty had fallen asleep and for fun, her son, young Cupid, cut the nails of her hand using one of his arrows.

He set off with his spoils to Olympus, but what belongs to the Gods and Goddesses cannot be altered. The deities of Destiny took possession of Aphrodite's nails and transformed them into fine stones, called onyx.

The word onyx therefore comes from the Greek “onux” which translates as nail or claw. One of the characteristics of onyx is that it does not stick to wax. It was therefore widely used in Rome to make cameos and seals, which closed their letters. They also used this stone to make ornamental objects or statuettes.

In the Middle Ages, onyx, due to its dark color, was associated with hatred and curses. Black represented darkness, death and gloom. It was even thought that owning an onyx could bring misfortune. In China also, black stone had a very bad reputation.

However, in the Bible, God addresses Moses and dictates his instructions in the construction of a sanctuary and in the preparation of the vestments and regalia of the priests. It evokes a breastplate of judgment which will have four rows of stones and in the fourth row will be chrysolite, beryl and onyx.

In Asian countries, the black mineral was considered a source of misfortune. However, the Indians attributed to it the power to protect from curses and alleviate pain.

Thus, for several centuries and in several civilizations, black onyx will be associated with anger, hatred and despair. Then at the end of the 19th century, this stone came back into fashion thanks to Queen Victoria. Black was a color reserved for mourning. But Queen Victoria particularly liked this color and decided to wear it through her jewelry. The fashion was thus launched in England where onyx was all the rage.

Onyx belongs to the large family of silicates. It is a variety of chalcedony just like agate which is part of the quartz group. It has a translucent or opaque appearance, black in color with a few white bands on certain specimens.

The formation of onyx takes place in volcanic rocks, in the cracks of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The constitution of these rocks took place under the action of heat and pressure. It is possible to find onyx polished by water in the shape of pebbles.

Onyx has a conchoidal break and a vitreous luster. Its hardness is 7 on the Mohs scale. For comparison, diamond has a maximum hardness of 10 on this same scale. Nowadays, onyx is used in jewelry making. It is also used to create various ornamental objects in lithotherapy.

The main deposits are located in Brazil, Australia, China, Russia, the United States, etc.

In Lithotherapy, onyx is a real shield against negative energies. It provides harmony and calm to the mind. Bad thoughts give way to peaceful thoughts. It is excellent for people with tumultuous thoughts and those who are in contact with harmful influences.

This stone strengthens self-assurance and self-confidence. It leads to better management of one's emotions while limiting feelings of sadness, anxiety and anguish. It provides serenity and fights effectively against stress. It generates stability in inconstant or moody people.

Onyx is an anchoring stone that helps you enjoy the present moment and allows you to be rooted in the earth. It facilitates openness towards others and quality exchanges. It encourages empathy and compassion. The confidence generated by wearing an onyx facilitates contact with those around you.

This stone is particularly recommended during meditation sessions. Wearing an onyx is said to stabilize the mind and encourage introspection. Understanding yourself better allows you to move forward in life better. It helps maintain absolute concentration and can be recommended for students or people in training.

Onyx is a stone that develops a sense of responsibility, which allows you to overcome obstacles or difficulties in life. It allows you to stop looking at the past and face the future without apprehension while savoring the present.