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ONYX

 

 

Onyx is the Mystical birthstone for the month of December. It is also the stone for the Zodiac sign of Leo(Birthstone), Capricorn ( Talismanic Stones).

Onyx is a chalcedony quartz that is mined in Brazil, India, California and Uruguay that has a fine texture and black color; however some onyx also displays white bands or ribbons against a black or brown background. Onyx was very popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. The name comes from the Greek word onyx, which means fingernail.

The legend is that one day Cupid cut the fingernails of Venus while she was sleeping and left the clippings scattered on the ground. So that no part of Venus would ever perish, the fates turned them into stone.


In Greek times, almost all colors of chalcedony from white to dark brown and black were called onyx. Later, the Romans narrowed the term to refer to black and dark brown colors only. Onyx which is reddish brown with white and lighter reddish bands is known as sardonyx. A 6.5 on the Mohs' scale, onyx is a very good stone for use in carving.

Most Black Onyx that is commercially available today is color enhanced (heated and dyed) to increase it's depth of color.

Folklore:
Thought to increase regeneration, happiness, intuition, instincts. Also thought to decrease sexual desire and helps to change bad habits.

 

There are many variations of birthstone lists and much duplication and overlap between them. Some scholars attribute the origin of the tradition of birthstones to the Breastplate of Aaron (the brother of Moses), a religious caftan arranged with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

Birthstones based on your Zodiac:

 

Sign
Birthstones
Luckstones
Planetary

 

Aries

21 March - 19 April

 

 

Bloodstone or Red Carnelian
Other lists include:
Diamond

Diamond


Jasper


Bloodstone

Jasper

 

 

Taurus

20 April - 20 May

 

 

Sapphire or Orange Carnelian
Other lists include:
Turqouis, Amber, Blood Coral, Emerald

Diamond


Sapphire

Emerald


Aventurine

 

 

Gemini

21 May - 21 June

 

Agate or Citrine, Tiger's eye
Other lists include:
Chrysoprase, Pearl

Agate


Emerald

Tiger Eye

 

 

Cancer

22 June - 22 July

 

Emerald or Green Aventurine
Other lists include:
Moonstone, Pearl, Ruby

Emerald


Agate


Chalcedony

Moonstone

 

Leo

23 July - 22 August

 

Onyx or Rock Crystal, Golden Quartz
Other lists include:
Tourmaline, Sardonyx

Peridot


Onyx


Amber

Rock Cyrstal

 

Virgo

23 August - 22 September

Carnelian or Yellow Agate, Yellow Citrine
Other lists include:
Jasper, Jade, Sapphire

Carnelian


Sardonyx

Citrine

 

 

Libra

23 September - 22 October

 

Chysolite or Orange Citrine, Smoky Quartz
Other lists include:
Opal, Lapis Lazuli, Peridot

Opal

Chrsolite


Sardonyx

Sapphire

 

 

Scorpio

23 October - 21 November

 

Beryl or Blood-red Carnelian, Sard
Other lists include:
Aquamarine, Topaz

Aquamarine


Beryl

Garnet


Ruby

 

 

Sagittarius

22 November - 21 December

 

Topaz or Blue Quartz, Chalcendony
Other lists include:
Sapphire, Amethyst, Turquoise

Topaz


Pearl

Topaz

 

 

Capricorn

22 December - 19 January

 

Ruby or Onyx, Quartz Cat's eye
Other lists include:
Agate, Garnet
Ruby
Lapis Lazuli

 

 

Aquarius

20 January - 18 February

 

Garnet or Hawk's eye, Turquoise
Other lists include:
Moss Agate, Opal, Amethyst
Garnet
Turqouise

 

 

Pisces

19 February - 20 March

 

Amethyst
Other lists include:
Rock Crystal, Sapphire, Bloodstone
Amethyst
Aquamarine

 

 

 

Birthstones based on your birhtday month :

 

January
Garnet
February
Amethyst
March
Aquamarine
April
Diamond
May
Emerald
June
Pearl or Moonstone
July
Ruby
August
Peridot
September
Sapphire
October
Opal or Pink Tourmaline
November
Topaz or Smoky Quartz
December
Turquoise or Blue Zircon

 

 

Birthstones based on the days of the weeks :

 

Sunday
Topaz
Monday
Pearl or Rock Crystal
Tuesday
Ruby or Emerald
Wednesday
Amethyst or Magnetite
Thursday
Sapphire or Carnelian
Friday
Emerald or Cat's eye
Saturday
Turquoise or Diamond

 

Gemstones that display Optical Characteristics :

 

Sunday
Sunstone
Monday
Moonstone
Tuesday
Star Sapphire
Wednesday
Star Ruby
Thursday
Cat's eye
Friday
Alexandrite
Saturday
Labradorite

 

 

Birthstones based on Hours of Day :

 

1 AM
Smoky Quartz
1 PM
Zircon
2 AM
Hematite
2 PM
Emerald
3 AM
Malachite
3 PM
Beryl
4 AM
Lapis-Lazuli
4 PM
Topaz
5 AM
Turquoise
5 PM
Ruby
6 AM
Tourmaline
6 PM
Opal
7 AM
Chrysolite
7 PM
Sardonyx
8 AM
Amethyst
8 PM
Chalcedony
9 AM
Kunzite
9 PM
Jade
10 AM
Sapphire
10 PM
Jasper
11 AM
Garnet
11 PM
Magnetite
12 AM
Diamond
12 PM
Onyx

 

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