Onyx

This black chalcedony quartz has a fine texture, making it ideal for carving.The word onyx comes from the Greek onux, or fingernail. The ancient legend about the origins of onyx is one of the strangest in gemstone lore: Cupid trimmed the fingernails of Venus while she slept, and the scattered sacred clippings turned to onyx!Some believed onyx could change ones bad habits, improve concentration and calm rattled nerves. It was sometimes worn for by public speakers, who believed it made them more eloquent. Perhaps not surprisingly, onyx was also said to make fingernails grow faster!From the Art Deco period to the present day, modern jewellery designers have valued the understated elegance of onyx. After all, black is always in style! The darkness and solidity of this somewhat opaque gemstone provides a dramatic contrast when paired with translucent crystal gemstones, especially rubies and marcasite.