Onyx
A dense, even black that gives a piece its architecture — onyx is the stone Sharon reaches for when a design needs weight and contrast rather than sparkle.
About Onyx
Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony, a microcrystalline form of quartz. Strictly the name describes material with parallel black and white bands, but in common use it refers to the solid black stone, which is usually banded agate that has been dyed to an even color — a treatment practiced since antiquity and entirely standard.
What onyx offers a designer is negative space. Against yellow gold or a bright diamond, a polished black surface reads as structure, and it lets a small accent stone carry far more visual weight than it could on its own. It takes an exceptionally smooth polish and holds it.
At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale it is durable enough for everyday wear, though the polished surface can dull with abrasion over many years and can be refreshed by a jeweller.
Why Sharon works with onyx
Sharon uses onyx structurally — a black cuff with a single line of diamonds, or a dark ground that makes a warm metal look warmer. It is one of the few materials in her work chosen for what it does for everything around it rather than for itself.
Caring for onyx
Warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, harsh chemicals and prolonged heat, which can affect dyed material.
Common questions about onyx
Is black onyx dyed?
Usually, yes. Most solid black onyx is banded chalcedony dyed to an even black, a treatment used for thousands of years and accepted as standard.
Is onyx hard enough for a ring?
Yes, at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. The polish can dull over years of wear but can be restored.
Onyx jewelry by Sharon Teaman
Each piece is one of a kind and made by hand in State College, Pennsylvania.
Onyx and Diamond 14K Yellow Gold Cuff
Onyx$12,875
Onyx 212 14K Reverse Onyx Ring
Onyx$5,900
Drusy Rare Natural Rainbow Drusy, Onyx Tongue and Green Tourmaline Dangle Earrings - Overall Measurement 50 x 18mm
Drusy$2,995
Onyx Matching (Mirror Imaged) Hand Carved Onyx - Shown on 14K Yellow Gold Huggies (Priced Separately)
Onyx$2,390
Commission a onyx piece
Tell Sharon the color, the shape or the budget you have in mind. She sources onyx year round and will find the right stone before a single sketch is made.