Lab Created Black Onyx SONYX

Lab Created Black Onyx

Onyx stones are layered chalcedony – a microcrystalline quartz – and occur with parallel bands along its internal structure. Colors on the bands of many onyx stones range from black to multiple colors.

The resemblance of onyx to calcite, opal, and obsidian makes it a unique stone fit for multiple uses. Onyx stones are suitable as cut away material for sculptors keen to create intaglios and cameos with deep context and contrast.

Jewelers also prefer onyx as centerpieces on luxury jewelry, and these stones make perfect additions to necklaces, earrings, and other beautiful items.

There’s so much more about black onyx you need to know if you plan to add its beautiful detail to your jewelry collection. That’s why this article provides all the vital information you need about black onyx, its origins, how to maintain it, and other useful details.

History of Lab-Grown Black Onyx

Onyx is a Latin word for ‘claw’ or ‘fingernail’, owing to the appearance of its white variant. The stone was in use across civilizations for hard stone carvings, jewelry, bead making, and forming into cabochons.

Many prominent hard stone carvings in the 1920s and 1930s come from different variants of black onyx. Several mentions of onyx appear in the Christian Bible and it was a popular stone for Greco-Roman carvings.
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How is Lab-Grown Black Onyx Made?

Onyx and sardonyx form naturally, but lab-grown variants use synthetic materials like opaque, black, and devitrified glasses to create replicas. These replicas usually contain bands of silicon heated along with base glasses and coloring to form a durable, synthetic alternative to natural black onyx.

Uses of Lab-Grown Black Onyx

Lab-Grown Black onyx is useful as adornment pieces on different kinds of jewelry. Jewelers carve these stones are centerpieces on earrings, necklaces, and other forms of beautiful jewelry. The signature blue color of lab-grown black onyx also makes it a preferred option for designing:

• Ornaments,
• Sculpture,
• Vases,
• Fancy boxes,
• Decorations on interior walls, fittings, etc.

Artisans, jewelers, interior decorators, and buyers fancy lab-grown black onyx for multiple purposes. These crystalline rocks are easy to work with and artisans and experienced jewelers can mold them into different useful items.

Chemical Properties of Lab-Grown Black Onyx

• Element formula: Silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2)
• Specific gravity: 2.55 – 2.70
• Refractive index: 1.530 – 1.543
• Optical properties: Uniaxial
• Mohs scale hardness: 6.5 – 7
• Luster: Vitreous and silky
• Fracture: Uneven and conchoidal
• Diaphaneity: Translucent
• Crystal system: Trigonal
• Common streak: White
• Color: Various
• Cleavage: None

Maintenance Tips for Lab-Grown Black Onyx

Preserve the appearance of your lab-grown black onyx with a polishing cloth. Use a polishing cloth to wipe off dirt from the onyx surface and return their signature shine and appearance.

Make sure you never expose black onyx to ammonia-rich commercial jewelry cleaners. Some commercial jewelry cleaners with ammonia might damage the structure of your black onyx gems.

Proper storage is another effective way to maintain your lab-grown black onyx rocks. These rocks don’t need too much maintenance and might react poorly to regular cleaning tools used on diamonds and other gemstones.

Consult an experienced jeweler for more information before you choose a maintenance method for your black onyx gems. Seeking information from qualified professionals is the only way to ensure your crystal appears brilliant for much longer.